List of football managers with most games
This is a list of football (soccer) managers with 1,000 or more games.
Alex Ferguson, who took charge of a total of 2,155 competitive games between 1974 and 2013, holds the world record for the most games as a manager, starting with East Stirlingshire in Scotland and finishing with an enormously successful 27-year spell as manager of Manchester United, also including an interim spell as manager of the Scotland national football team during the mid 1980s.
Dario Gradi, of dual English and Italian heritage, took charge of 1,557 Football League matches in a 33-year career which took in spells with Wimbledon, Crystal Palace and three spells - totalling 1,359 games - in 28 years at Crewe Alexandra.
Other managers on the list include former England managers Bobby Robson and Graham Taylor, the former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, former Manchester United manager Matt Busby, and former Derby County and Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough.
Ignacio Trelles is the only manager of 1,000 or more club games (1,083 in first level on pyramid) and 100 or more national team games.
# | Name | Team(s) (years) | P | W | D | L | Win% | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | • East Stirlingshire (1974) • St Mirren (1974-1978) • Scotland (1985-1986) • Aberdeen (1978-1986) • Manchester United (1986-2013) | 2,155 | 1,253 | 490 | 412 | 58.1 | ? | |
2 | • Nancy (1984-1987) • Monaco (1987-1994) • Nagoya Grampus Eight (1995-1996) • Arsenal (1996-2018) | 1,701 | 918 | 367 | 416 | 54.0 | ? | |
3 | • Shrewsbury Town (1978-1984) • Aston Villa (1984-1986) • Wolverhampton Wanderers (1986-1994) • Hereford United (1995-2009) • Shrewsbury Town (2010-2014) | 1,659 | 656 | 443 | 560 | 39.5 | ? | |
4 | • Yeovil Town (1946-1949) • Leyton Orient (1949–1959) • AS Roma (1957-1958) • Queens Park Rangers (1959–1968) • Luton Town (1968–1972) • Fulham (1972–1976) • Bournemouth (1979–1980) | 1,618 | 679 | 408 | 531 | 42 | ? | |
5 | • Celtic (1897-1940) | 1,611 | 1,039 | 314 | 258 | 64.5 | ? | |
6 | • Sutton United (1976-1977) • Wimbledon (1978-1981) • Crystal Palace (1981) • Crewe Alexandra (1983-2007, 2008, 2009-2011) | 1,557 | 574 | 375 | 608 | 36.9 | ? | |
7 | • West Bromwich Albion (secretary-manager) (1902-1948) | 1,520 | 656 | 331 | 532 | 43.16 | ? | |
8 | • Boston United (player-manager) (1969–1972) • Colchester United (player-manager) (1972–1975) • Blackburn Rovers (1975–1978) • Birmingham City (1978–1982) • Oxford United (1982–1985, 2006–2007, 2008) • Queens Park Rangers (1985–1988) • Newcastle United (1988–1991) • Portsmouth (1991–1995) • Derby County (1995–2001) | 1,475 | 577 | 495 | 403 | 39.2 | ? | |
9 | • Hartlepools United (1965-1967) • Derby County (1967-1973) • Brighton & Hove Albion (1973-1974) • Leeds United (1974) • Nottingham Forest (1975-1993) | 1,453 | 675 | 368 | 410 | 46.5 | ? | |
10 | • Fulham (1968) • Ipswich Town (1969–1982) • England (1982–1990) • PSV Eindhoven (1990–1992, 1998–1999) • Sporting CP (1992–1994) • Porto (1994–1996) • Barcelona (1996–1997) • Newcastle United (1999–2004) | 1,446 | 718 | 351 | 377 | 49.7 | ? | |
11 | • Bournemouth (1983–1992) • West Ham United (1994–2001) • Portsmouth (2002–2004, 2005–2008) • Southampton (2004–2005) • Tottenham Hotspur (2008–2012) • Queens Park Rangers (2012–2015) • Jordan (2016) • Birmingham City (2017) | 1,391 | 561 | 345 | 485 | 40.3 | ? | |
12 | • Lincoln City (1972-1977) • Watford (1977-1987, 1996-2001) • Aston Villa (1987-1990, 2002-2003) • England (1990-1993) • Wolverhampton Wanderers (1994-1995) | 1,384 | 596 | 370 | 418 | 43.1 | ? | |
13 | • A.C. Milan (1974, 1975–1976) • Juventus (1976–1986, 1991–1994) • Inter Milan (1986–1991) • Bayern Munich (1994–1995, 1996–1998) • Cagliari (1995–1996) • Fiorentina (1998–2000) • Italy (2000–2004) • Benfica (2004–2005) • VfB Stuttgart (2005–2006) • Red Bull Salzburg (2006–2008) • Republic of Ireland (2008–2013) • Vatican City (2010) | 1,382 | 716 | 399 | 267 | 51.8 | ? | |
14 | • Scarborough (1986–1989) • Notts County (1989–1993) • Torquay United (1993) • Huddersfield Town (1993–1995) • Plymouth Argyle (1995–1997) • Oldham Athletic (1997–1998) • Bury (1998–1999) • Sheffield United (1999–2007) • Crystal Palace (2007–2010, 2014) • Queens Park Rangers (2010–2012, 2015) • Leeds United (2012–2013) • Rotherham United (2016) • Cardiff City (2016–2019) | 1,379 | 556 | 389 | 434 | 40.3 | ? | |
15 | • FC Kuban Krasnodar (1982) • Pamir Dushanbe (1983-1985) • FC Lokomotiv Moscow (1986-1990, 1992-2005, 2009-2010, 2016-present) • Russia (2005) • FC Dynamo Moscow (2005-2006, 2009-2010) • Dinamo Kyiv (2007-2009, 2010-2012) • FC Gabala (2013-14) • FC Mordovia Saransk (2014-15) • FC Anzhi Makhachkala (2015) | 1,353 | 681 | 310 | 362 | ? | ? | |
16 | • Aston Villa (1884-1926) | 1,327 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
17 | • Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (1969–1973) • Dynamo Kyiv (1973–1982, 1984–1990, 1997–2002) • Soviet Union (1975–1976, 1982–1983, 1986–1990) • United Arab Emirates (1990–1993) • Kuwait (1994–1996) • Ukraine (2000–2001) | 1,317 | 731 | 340 | 246 | 55.5 | [1] | |
17 | • Ascoli (1968–1975, 1980–1985) • Fiorentina (1975–1978) • Catanzaro (1978–1980) • Bologna (1985–1986, 1998–1999, 2003–2005) • Lecce (1986–1990) • Pescara (1990–1991) • Cagliari (1991–1993, 1996–1997) • Roma (1993–1996) • Napoli (1997–1998) • Perugia (1999–2000) • Brescia (2000–2003) • Livorno (2006) | 1,278 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
18 | • 1. FC Saarbrücken (1972–1973) • Kickers Offenbach (1974–1975) • Werder Bremen (1976, 1981–1995) • Borussia Dortmund (1976–1978) • Arminia Bielefeld (1978–1979) • Fortuna Düsseldorf (1979–1980) • Bayern Munich (1995–1996) • 1. FC Kaiserslautern (1996–2000) • Greece (2001–2010) • Hertha BSC (2012) | 1,225 | 606 | 278 | 341 | 49.5 | ? | |
19 | • Borussia Mönchengladbach (1979–1987, 2006–2007) • Bayern Munich (1987–1991, 2009, 2011–2013, 2017-2018) • Athletic Bilbao (1992–1994, 2001–2003) • Eintracht Frankfurt (1994–1995) • Tenerife (1995–1997) • Real Madrid (1997–1998) • Benfica (1999–2000) • Schalke 04 (2003–2004) • Bayer Leverkusen (2009–2011) | 1,224 | 625 | 282 | 317 | 51.1 | ? | |
20 | • York City (1982–1987) • Sunderland (1987–1991) • Bristol City (1992–19939 • Oxford United (1993–1997, 2000) • West Bromwich Albion (1997–1999) • Wrexham (2001–2007) | 1,195 | 464 | 290 | 441 | 38.8 | ||
21 | • Zacatepec (1950–1951, 1954–1958) • C.D. Cuautla (1953) • C.D. Marte (1953–1954) • Club America(1958–1960, 1975–1976) • Mexico (1957, 1960–1962, 1965–1969, 1975–1976, 1990-1991) • Toluca (1966–1968) • Cruz Azul (1976–1982) • Atlante F.C. (1983–1985) • Leones Negros U de G (1986–1989) • Puebla (1990–1991) | 1,189 | 513 | 346 | 330 | 43.1 | ||
22 | • Rangers (1920-1954) | 1,179 | 788 | 228 | 163 | 66.83 | ||
23 | • Plymouth Argyle (1978) • Charlton Athletic (1982–1991) • Middlesbrough (1991–1994) • Bradford City (1994–1995) • Luton Town (1995–2000) • Grimsby Town 2000–2001) • Cardiff City (2002–2005) • Crystal Palace (joint caretaker) (2012) | 1,163 | 408 | 436 | 319 | 35.1 | ? | |
24 | • Heart of Midlothian (1919–1935) • Hibernian (1936–1948) | 1,158 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
25 | • Atlético Madrid (1974–1980, 1982–1987, 1991–1993, 2001–2003) • Betis (1981, 1997–1998) • Barcelona (1987–1988) • Espanyol (1990–1991) • Sevilla (1993–1995) • Valencia (1995–1997) • Oviedo (1999–2000) • Mallorca (2000–2001, 2003–2004) • Spain (2004–2008) • Fenerbahçe (2008–2009) | 1,151 | 567 | 262 | 322 | 49.26 | ? | |
26 | • Manchester United (1945–1969, 1970–1971) • Scotland (1958) | 1,147 | 577 | 268 | 302 | 50.3 | ? | |
27 | • Velež Mostar (1983–1987) • AEK Athens (1988–1996, 2002–2004, 2008–2010) • Olympiacos (1996–1999, 2004–2005) • PAOK (2000–2002) • Red Star Belgrade (2006–2007) • Aris Thessaloniki (2007–2008) • Omonia (2010–2011) • Atromitos (2012) • Bosnia and Herzegovina (2019–present) | 1,140 | 638 | 260 | 242 | 55.96 | ? | |
28 | • Pumas UNAM (1995–1996, 2006–2010) • Mexico (1993, 2015) • Guadalajara (1996–2000) • Tigres UANL (2000–2003, 2006, 2010–present) • Toluca (2003–2004) • Morelia (2005) | 1,136 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
29 | • Walsall (1978, 1979–1981, 1981–1982 [joint], 1982–1986) • Kettering Town (1986–1988) • Grimsby Town (1988–1994, 1997–2000, 2006–2008) • West Bromwich Albion (1994–1997) • Lincoln City (2001–2002) • Rochdale (2003) | 1,126 | 425 | 396 | 305 | 37.7 | ? | |
30 | • Wolverhampton Wanderers (1885-1922) | 1,125 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
31 | • Hawick Royal Albert (1983) • Gala Fairydean (1983–1988) • Berwick Rangers (1988–1990) • Falkirk (1990–1995) • Heart of Midlothian (1995–2000, 2010–2011) • Bradford City (2000–2001) • Kilmarnock (2002–2010) • Dunfermline Athletic (2012–2014) | 1,116 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
32 | • Hull City (1984–1988) • Oxford United (1988–1993) • Manchester City (1993–1995) • Huddersfield Town (1995–1997) • Brighton & Hove Albion (1998–1999) • Port Vale (1999–2004) • Macclesfield Town (2004–2006, 2012) | 1,098 | 367 | 305 | 426 | 33.4 | ? | |
33 | • Oldham Athletic (1982-1994, 2009) • Everton (1994-1997) • Manchester City (1998-2001) • Ipswich Town (2002-2006) | 1,096 | 428 | 300 | 368 | 39.2 | ? | |
34 | • Dundee United (1971-1993) | 1,094 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
35 | • Swansea City Player/Manager (1978–1983) • Sporting CP (1984–1985) • Real Sociedad (1985–1989, 1991–1994, 2001–2002) • Real Madrid (1989–1990, 1999) • Wales (1994, 2004–2010) • Deportivo (1995–1997) • Beşiktaş (1997–1999) • Saint-Étienne (2000–2001) • Catania (2002–2003) • Real Murcia (2004) • Macedonia (2011–2012) • Khazar Lankaran (2013) • Wydad Casablanca (2014–2016) | 1,090 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
36 | • Degerfors IF (1977–1978) • IFK Göteborg (1979–1982) • Benfica (1982–1984) • Roma (1984–1987) • Fiorentina (1987–1989) • Benfica (1989–1992) • Sampdoria (1992–1997) • Lazio (1997–2001) • England (2001–2006) • Manchester City (2007–2008) • Mexico (2008–2009) • Ivory Coast (2010) • Leicester City (2010–2011) • Guangzhou R&F (2013–2014) • Shanghai SIPG (2014–2016) • Shenzhen FC (2016–2017) | 1,082 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
37 | • Kettering Town (1971–1974) • Cambridge United (1974–1978) • West Bromwich Albion (1978–1981, 1987–1988) • Manchester United (1981–1986) • Atlético Madrid (1988–1989) • Sheffield Wednesday (1989–1991) • Aston Villa (1991–1994) • Coventry City (1995–1996) • Sheffield Wednesday (1997–1998) • Nottingham Forest (1999) | 1,078 | 464 | 306 | 308 | 43.0 | ? | |
38 | • Barnsley (1994–1998, 2013–2015) • Sheffield Wednesday (1998–2000) • Bristol City (2000–2004) • Milton Keynes Dons (2004–2006) • Hartlepool United (2006–2008) • Swindon Town (2008–2011) • Sheffield United (2011–2013) • Chesterfield (2015–2017) | 1,067 | 422 | 276 | 368 | 39.6 | ? | |
39 | • Zug 94 (1983–1984) • Aarau (1984–1988) • Grasshoppers (1988–1991) • Borussia Dortmund (1991–1997) • Bayern Munich (1998–2004, 2007–2008) • Switzerland (2008–2014) | 1,039 | 562 | 256 | 221 | 54.1 | ? | |
40 | • Dunfermline Athletic (1960–1964) • Hibernian (1964–1965) • Scotland (1965, 1978–1985) • Celtic (1965–1978) • Leeds United (1978) | 1,038 | 660 | 174 | 204 | 63.6 | ? | |
41 | • Bournemouth (1992–1994) • Gillingham (1995–1999) • Bristol City (1999–2000) • Portsmouth (2000) • Stoke City (2002–2005, 2006–2013) • Plymouth Argyle (2005–2006) • Crystal Palace (2013–2014) • West Bromwich Albion (2015–2017) | 1,036 | 374 | 308 | 354 | 36.1 | ? | |
42 | • Ashton United (1997–1999) • Accrington Stanley (1999–2012, 2014-Present) • Rochdale (2012-2013) • Southport (2013-2014) • Sligo Rovers (2014) |
1,026 | 428 | 257 | 341 | 43 | ? | |
Football National Team Managers with 100 or more games
Name | Age | From | To | Span (years) | Games |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
75 | 1983 | 2009 | 26 | 273 | |
73 | 1990 | 2014 | 24 | 230 | |
72 | 2000 | present | 16 | 211 | |
72 | 1991–2002, 2008 | present | 13 | 192 | |
73 | 1988-1990, 2006 | present | 28 | 191 | |
60 | 2006 | present | 10 | 173 | |
79 | 1936 | 1964 | 28 | 167 | |
71 | 2000 | 2015 | 15 | 163 | |
88 | 1946 | 1962 | 16 | 139 | |
80 | 1964 | 1978 | 14 | 139 | |
68 | 1998-2006, 2016 | present | 19 | 144 | |
91 | 1957 | 1978 | 21 | 132 | |
78 | 1981 | 1997 | 16 | 128 | |
73 | 1992 | present | 24 | 128 | |
61 | 1939 | 1960 | 21 | 127 | |
89 | 1967 | 1974 | 7 | 124 | |
77 | 1967 | 2010 | 43 | +100 | |
74 | 1993 | 2017 | 24 | +100 | |
69 | 2008 | 2016 | 8 | 114 | |
79 | 1963 | 1974 | 11 | 113 | |
55 | 1919 | 1937 | 18 | 131 | |
56 | 2004-2006, 2011 | 2016 | 12 | 132 | |
104 | 1957, 1960-1962, 1965-1969, 1975-1976, 1990 | 1991 | 31 | 106 | |
70 | 2005 | 2018 | 13 | 106 | |
63 | 1975–1976, 1979, 1982–1983, 1986-1996, 2000 | 2001 | 15 | 155 | |
See also
References
- "Валерій Лобановський: 1317 матчів!". Ukrainian Premier League. Retrieved 9 July 2019.