Carlo Ancelotti has officially taken the helm of the Brazilian national team and will lead them towards the 2026 World Cup. His departure marks a significant moment for Real Madrid, as Ancelotti leaves after becoming the club`s most successful coach ever, with an impressive tally of 15 trophies, including three Champions League titles. With Xabi Alonso reportedly poised to take charge before the summer`s FIFA Club World Cup, it`s an opportune time to reflect on Ancelotti`s impact and tenure at Madrid. How does he stack up against the other managerial greats who have graced the dugout at the Spanish club? Let`s rank the top five coaches in Real Madrid`s storied history.
5. Jose Mourinho (2010-2013)
Though potentially a contentious pick for some, many within the Real Madrid fanbase consider the Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho among the club`s finest. His inclusion is largely due to winning the La Liga title in the 2011-12 season, making him the first manager to overcome Pep Guardiola`s formidable Barcelona during their golden era. Appointed in the summer of 2010, fresh off winning a treble with Inter Milan, Florentino Perez tasked `The Special One` with restoring Real Madrid`s glory and challenging Barcelona`s dominance. In his first year, he secured the Copa del Rey by defeating Barcelona in the final, followed by a sensational league-winning campaign the next season.
4. Vicente Del Bosque (1994, 1996, 1999-2003)
The legendary Spanish manager is considered one of European football`s most iconic coaches. At Real Madrid, Del Bosque clinched two La Liga titles and, most notably, two Champions League trophies. This included the 2001 final, where a memorable Zinedine Zidane goal secured a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. Del Bosque also had a distinguished playing career for Real Madrid, winning five La Liga titles between 1974 and 1980. He managed the club three times, initially as a caretaker twice before returning in 1999 to usher in one of the team`s most successful periods. When Florentino Perez was first elected president in 2000, Del Bosque became the first manager under his celebrated leadership.
3. Miguel Munoz (1960-1974)
Miguel Munoz stands as arguably one of the most significant figures in 20th-century Spanish football. He played for Real Madrid from 1948 to 1958, winning three European Cup titles as a player before taking over as manager in 1960. This marked the beginning of one of the club`s most prosperous chapters. As coach, he added two more European Cups (1960 and 1966) and an impressive nine La Liga titles, among other honors. With 601 games managed, he still holds the record for the most matches coached in Real Madrid`s history, presiding over a truly dominant cycle in the sport.
2. Zinedine Zidane (2016-2018, 2019-2021)
An icon first as a player and then as a manager for the Spanish giants. When Florentino Perez appointed Zinedine Zidane in 2016, replacing Rafa Benitez, there were initial doubts as it was his first experience as a first-team head coach, despite having won the Champions League as Carlo Ancelotti`s assistant two years prior. Zidane managed Real Madrid from 2016 to 2018 and returned for a second spell from 2019 to 2021. During his initial tenure, he achieved an unprecedented feat: winning the Champions League for three consecutive years (2016-2018), becoming the first manager ever to do so. To this day, Real Madrid remains the only club he has managed in his career.
1. Carlo Ancelotti (2013-2015, 2021-2025)
And finally, Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian is undeniably one of the most successful managers in football history, having amassed 31 major trophies across spells in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and England. He holds the unique distinction of winning league titles in all five major European leagues and boasts the record for the most Champions League titles (five) and UEFA Super Cup titles (five) as a coach. Across his two periods managing Real Madrid, he lifted the Champions League trophy three times. The first came in 2014, securing `La Decima` (the club`s tenth European Cup) with a victory over Atletico Madrid. He added further triumphs in 2022 against Liverpool and in his most recent season against Borussia Dortmund in London. With a club-record 15 trophies won, Ancelotti departs as Real Madrid`s most decorated manager ever.
Dominic Ashworth