Winning the UEFA Champions League stands as the greatest individual achievement in European club competition. For managers, it represents a career-defining moment, which cements their reputation among the all-time great in the sports.
While winning it on one occasion is extremely remarkable, winning it multiple times is a rare feat that remains out of reach for most managers.
Carlo Ancelotti stands out on this list after leading Real Madrid to an unprecedented 15th title in the 2023/24 season, but do other all-time greats like Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson make the list?
SportPremi takes a look at the managers who have won the competition more times than others;
4. Bob Paisley (Three titles):
While many modern football lovers might be unfamiliar with the name, Liverpool faithfuls will always remember the legendary figure as the greatest manager in the club’s history.
Of blessed memory, Bob Paisley was the first-ever manager to win the European Cup three times, achieving this feat with Liverpool in 1977,1978 and 1981.
3. Zinedine Zidane (Three titles):
Best remembered for his infamous headbutt of Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the 2006 FIFA World Cup final, Zinedine Zidane led Real Madrid to three consecutive times between 2016 and 2018.
Zidane made history in 2016, becoming the first coach to win the prestigious title while leading Real Madrid to the ‘La decima’.
He is the only manager in history to have achieved this feat and is one of seven personalities to have won the UCL both as a player and as a manager.
2. Pep Guardiola (Three titles):
Guardiola remains one of the greatest managers in history, with his exploits across the Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga and the English Premier League.
The Spaniard led one of the greatest football teams in history at Barcelona to two titles between 2009 and 2011, before winning a third title with Manchester City in 2023.
He is one of the seven men to have won the title as a player and as a manager, while he also ranks in the list of managers to have won the trophy with two different clubs.
1. Carlo Ancelotti (Five titles):
In a class of his own, Carlo Ancelotti ranks as the most successful manager in UEFA Champions League history. The Italian has won the competition five times as a manager in six attempts, more than any other manager.
Ancelotti won his first title with AC Milan in 2003, but did not win a second until 2007, leading the Rossoneri to victory over Liverpool.
In his first spell with Real Madrid, he won a first title in 2014, before returning for a second spell where he won two more titles with the club.
