In the last century, football has witnessed a lot of transformation in every aspect from media and sponsorship to finances and academies. The people who have had the biggest impact on football, however, are those managers who achieved great success.
All a consequence of brilliant tactics and man-management combined with an elusive ability to adapt and innovate. Like all great leaders good managers are complex and there is no easy way to understand what makes a top manager but we can all sit back and appreciate top achievements. We know it is not an easy job and even the best managers needed their vices, like a drink, owning racehorses or even gaming with a PlayAmo Bonus.
Read about some of the best football managers of the last century. And learn about their careers, philosophies, and the characteristics that mark them out.
1. Sir Alex Ferguson
Teams Managed: Aberdeen, Manchester United
Notable Achievements:
- 13 Premier League titles
- 2 UEFA Champions League titles
- 5 FA Cups
- Numerous other domestic and international trophies
What Made Him Stand Out: Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United has been just legendary. Over 27 years, he built the club into a global powerhouse. The restoration and rebuilding of winning teams over different eras is testimony to his adaptability and foresight.
The real second-to-none man-management skill of Ferguson showed that he knew where to milk the cow and that he possessed the skills in getting the best from players.
He was the man for developing young prospects such as Ryan Giggs and David Beckham. And for balancing the egos of stars like Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo. But above all, he was tactically flexible. He outwitted opponents and outsmarted everyone who played against him. Hence, he became the most successful manager in the history of football.
2. Rinus Michels
Teams Managed: Ajax, Barcelona, Netherlands National Team
Notable Achievements:
- Developed “Total Football”
- European Cup with Ajax
- La Liga title with Barcelona
- Led Netherlands to the 1974 World Cup final. Also won the 1988 UEFA European Championship
What Made Him Stand Out: Rinus Michels was the father of “Total Football”. This is a concept where his players would interchange positions, thus allowing a complete running game with full force and vigor. He innovated at Ajax in order to lay the foundations for what was to come in the future and for football tactics across the globe.
At Barcelona, he won La Liga and fine-tuned his tactical philosophy. Michels’ highest accolade came through taking the Netherlands into the 1974 World Cup final and winning the 1988 European Championship. These demonstrated the application of his ideas on the international level.
3. Arrigo Sacchi
Teams Managed: Parma, AC Milan, Italy National Team
Notable Achievements:
- Back-to-back European Cup titles with AC Milan
- Serie A title with AC Milan
What Made Him Stand Out: Many believe Arrigo Sacchi is best remembered for his tenure at AC Milan. There he had to instil a very high-pressure, abrasive style of play that made the team one of the most difficult ever in football history.
Sacchi’s Milan was based on discipline in defense and fast joint attacking movements; it was all about the team. His philosophy has always been about a team game. Under his management AC Milan won the European cup in both 1989 and 1990. Episodes that can be defined as new benchmarks in club football in Europe.
4. Johan Cruyff
Teams Managed: Ajax, Barcelona
Notable Achievements:
- La Liga titles with Barcelona
- European Cup Winners’ Cup with Barcelona
What Made Him Stand Out: Cruyff was not only a great manager, but also a great thinker. Being a manager, he applied the concept of “Total Football” where he began the process of shaping Barcelona into what it is today in terms of club football. This new philosophy of playing became the cornerstone of Barcelona and Cruyff believed that the fastest way was with possession football.
It consists of a fast passing and constantly changing the position of players on the field. Young players like Pep Guardiola benefited from him. Cruyff’s principles are alive in Barcelona and its academy success in the evolving footballing traditions.
5. Pep Guardiola
Teams Managed: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City
Notable Achievements:
- Multiple league titles in Spain, Germany, and England
- 2 UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona
- Many domestic cups and international trophies
What Made Him Stand Out: Good at tactical innovation and meticulous attention to detail. His Barcelona team is often cited as one of the best in history. Possession, high pressing, and positional play are the strengths of this team.
Guardiola changed the way football is played and perceived. At Bayern Munich and Manchester City, he continued to innovate. He implemented new strategies and refined his approach to maintain his teams’ dominance.
6. Carlo Ancelotti
Teams Managed: AC Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain
Notable Achievements:
- UEFA Champions League titles with AC Milan and Real Madrid
- Domestic league titles in Italy, England, France, and Germany
What Made Him Stand Out: He is known for his cool demeanour and ability to handle some of football’s greatest egos. His main tools are tactical flexibility and focus on creating a team balance across Europe. Ancelotti got Real Madrid to the much-awaited La Décima or 10th European Cup in 2014.
One virtue he has is tact and strategy in handling his team since he can adjust the strategy of his team according to the abilities of his players. Another characteristic is the power to maintain a cohesive team structure.
The Game-Changers
The best football managers would care about trophies. But they were the best because they were game-changers. They had innovative ideas and strategic acumen. These managers have done a lot for football.
Their legacy inspires and influences football even now and influences the future generations of managers and players to be even better.
