Top 10 Best Managers in Football of the 21st Century (2025)

Football management has undergone a revolution in the twenty-first century, thanks to creative strategies, sophisticated analytics, and astute player management. These brilliant minds have influenced the beautiful game from the dugout, making a lasting impression on their teams, players, and supporters.

It’s evident that some managers have distinguished themselves from the others throughout the last 20 years (2000–2024) by continuously attaining success, adjusting to shifting conditions, and motivating future generations of coaches. Due to his classification as a 20th century coach, great coaches like Sir Alex Ferguson were left off the list.

The top ten football managers who have had a significant influence on the sport, taking their clubs to new heights and changing the definition of what it means to be a great manager are included here.

10. Flick, Hansi (15 trophies)
The German coach gained notoriety during an incredible time at Bayern Munich, where he won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and UEFA Champions League in 2020, completing a historic sextuple. Flick, who is well-known for playing aggressive, high-intensity football, was also Germany’s international captain. He has already added three domestic championships to his cabinet at Barcelona, further solidifying his standing as a cutting-edge, top manager.

9. Thirteen trophies for Thomas Tuchel

Tuchel has advanced swiftly through the coaching ranks and is renowned for his tactical adaptability and capacity to bring out the best in his players. His 2021 Champions League victories with Chelsea and PSG’s march to the championship game serve as a testament to his skill.

8. Ten trophies for Diego Simeone

Diego Simeone’s passionate and committed coaching approach has made Atletico Madrid a formidable His two trips to the Champions League finals and his 2014 La Liga title demonstrate his strategic prowess and capacity to motivate his team.

7. Luis Enrique, with sixteen trophies

Both Barcelona’s and PSG’s incredible treble victories in 2015 and 2025 featured Luis Enrique’s attacking style and superb group management. His reputation as a top-tier coach has been strengthened by his ongoing success with the French powerhouses. He is just the second manager to win two trebles in football history.

6. Nine trophies for Vicente del Bosque

Del Bosque is a cool-headed manager whose success with Spain has shaped his management career. Under Del Bosque, Spanish football reached its zenith with victories in the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship. His legend is further enhanced by his prior victory with Real Madrid.

5. 11-trophy Zinedine Zidane

The managing career of Zidane is quite remarkable. From 2016 to 2018, Real Madrid won three straight Champions League titles, setting a new record. His success has been aided by his ability to control egos and his composed manner.

4. With 13 trophies, Jürgen Klopp

Because of his fierce gegenpressing style, Jürgen Klopp has significantly changed football. His victories with Liverpool in the Premier League in 2020 and the Champions League in 2019 put an end to the team’s protracted trophy drought. Klopp is a well-known figure all around the world thanks to his charisma and strategic ingenuity.

3. With 31 trophies, Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo is a top-tier manager thanks to his strategies and track record of effectively leading well-known teams. He is regarded as one of the greatest in the sport because of his remarkable collection of Champions League trophies with AC Milan and Real Madrid, as well as his numerous domestic league titles.

2. 30 trophies for Jose Mourinho

Throughout his career, Jose Mourinho has received numerous awards for his astute and results-oriented management style. Notably, his victories in the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan, as well as other domestic league titles, have solidified his standing as a formidable force in the football industry.

1. Pep Guardiola, who has won 39 awards

Pep Guardiola is renowned for his innovative tactics and emphasis on ball control in football. His numerous league titles and Champions League victories with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City have made him a leading role in modern coaching. Because of their tactical creativity, excellent leadership, and winning record, these coaches have had a huge impact on the football world in recent years. In football history, he is the first coach to win two trebles.