
The Three Best Football Managers
Who are the best football managers of all time? What are the criteria for being a manager on this list of the three best of all time? You might be surprised to learn that it’s not just about winning trophies. The person in this position has to lead, motivate, and make decisions for their team on and off the field. Here’s our list of the top three football managers of all time.
Brian Clough
Brian Clough was an English football manager who led Nottingham Forest to two European Cups, one Football League Championship, four league titles, and two League Cups during his time with the club. Like Ferguson, he also had success turning unknown players into superstars. His most famous player is Peter Taylor, with whom he co-managed at both Derby County and Nottingham Forest.
Clough used to be a miner before becoming a football manager at 24. He always believed that it was important for managers to know what it’s like to work hard for their money, just like their players do every day on the field. This philosophy helped him establish rapport with his players off the field, which also helped him win. He once said, “I think my job is not only to tell them how good they are but also tell them how bad”.
Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho is many people’s favourite manager. He’s won the UEFA Champions League and multiple Premier League titles with various clubs. He’s a no-nonsense manager who doesn’t tolerate players who don’t work hard for him. His ability to motivate and take control of his team has helped him achieve success at every club he’s managed. When he was manager of Real Madrid, the team went from the worst in the league to champions in just one season (2010/2011). He also led Chelsea to victory in 2005 and 2007. His resume includes winning three Premier League titles, three League Cups, one FA Cup, one UEFA Champions League title, one UEFA Europa League title, and two Community Shield trophies.
The Portuguese coach is known for having a fierce personality, making him difficult to work with. But his determination and drive have also led to many successes during his career.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Widely regarded as the best British football manager of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson built Manchester United into a global powerhouse. He took over the club in 1986 and won 38 trophies during his time at the helm. His success was largely due to his ability to turn unknown players into superstars. The list of players he made into icons includes David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and more.
Ferguson was also known for his aggressive style of play. This resulted in many classic matches against Arsenal and Liverpool that are still talked about today. In addition to his achievements as a footballer and manager, he has made contributions off the field by writing for newspapers and giving his insight into the world of football management through books and lectures.