Nothing can beat supporting your favourite team at football matches – either live or from the comfort of your couch. Except for watching them win the match, that is. But if you’re into sports betting, loyalty versus a team may have little to do with the reality. If you want to win, you must place a bet using objective criteria. You must evaluate the team’s overall success rate, latest accomplishments, and its real odds of scoring. Sometimes, a way to do this is by checking the manager’s achievements.
Over the years, the football world has seen quite a few brilliant coaches. Yet still, some are a cut above the rest – such as the football managers below.
Josep Guardiola, Spain
Undeniably one of the greatest football managers of our times, Pep Guardiola started his career as a defensive midfielder for Barcelona. In 2007, he was nominated Barcelona’s team B manager, and only one year later he became the manager of the leading team.
Guardiola distinguished himself by making drastic changes to both the team and field strategy. Changes that brought a total of 14 trophies, including three Super Cup titles and two Champions League, in only four seasons.
His career went slightly downhill while coaching Bayern Munich, but he did manage to bring success to Manchester with a Premier League performance like no other. With an overall win percentage of 72.5%, Guardiola surely is a cut above the rest.
Carlo Ancelotti, Italy
Currently managing the Premier League football club Everton, Carlo Ancelotti is an Italian former football player and the only current football manager to have won the Champions League three times.
During his illustrious career, he has managed to gather over 20 trophies to his name, leading teams in Italy, England, France, and Germany.
All this was possible thanks to Ancelotti’s unique management style based on adaptability and versatility. Recognising the unique attributes of his players, he has always managed to create winning strategies suited to each specific team. Glorious.
Jose Mourinho, Portugal
Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho wasn’t a professional football player, but a physical education teacher who learned invaluable coaching strategies under Louis van Gaal and Bobby Robson. Focusing majorly on team strength and well-organised defences, Mourinho has managed to gather eight league titles and four domestic cups with Porto, Chelsea, Inter, and Real Madrid.
Not only he worked wonders with most teams, but he also managed to take Manchester United back into the Champions League.
Zinedine Zidane, France
For Zinedine Zidane, the path from a professional attacking midfielder to an outstanding football manager was incredibly smooth. As an elite playmaker, he was admired for the elegance on the field, ball control, and passing technique.
Zidane transitioned into coaching in 2014 and has managed Real Madrid since, winning three UEFA Champions League titles as well as one La Liga championship.
With an overall win percentage rate of 70%, Zidane is undeniably a cut above the rest in all things football.
Jürgen Klopp, Germany
A rising star in the football world, Jürgen Klopp has started as a player and ended as Liverpool’s manager, taking the team to three cup finals and winning the 2019 Champions League.
Before claiming success in the UK, Klopp impressed the football world when he led Dortmund to win 28 matches in 2012, establishing the team as a major force in European football and one of the primary opponents of Bayern Munich. No doubt, a football manager that truly knows how to stand out from the crowd.
