80. Sepp Herberger
Leading West Germany to 1954 World Cup glory over overwhelming favourites Hungary remains Herberger’s defining success, which came after he had identified that the Mighty Magyars weren’t so mighty out wide.
It was more than a trophy, however, for a post-war nation looking to reinvent itself. As an ex-Nazi party member himself, Herberger – in charge from 1936-64 – was among those desperate to forget his part in the propaganda machine.
79. Enzo Bearzot
Few managers have struck a balance between pragmatism and panache like Bearzot achieved during the 1970s and ’80s.
His Italy side popularised a daring, fluid 4-3-3 that bamboozled defences, yet their ability to stifle opponents was borne from a tight team ethic. As a result, he moved the Azzurri away from catenaccio and won the 1982 World Cup via Paolo Rossi’s boots.
“He was like a father to me,” Rossi said upon Bearzot’s death. “Without him, I would never have achieved what I did.”
78. Leo Beenhakker
Beenhakker was 23 in his first job at SV Epe – and suffered relegation in his debut season. But this brash young boss would go on to manage Real Madrid twice and win three consecutive La Liga titles, then lift the Eredivisie three times with two different clubs (Ajax and Feyenoord).
Later, the Dutchman – who took charge of 19 sides over 44 years – led Trinidad and Tobago to their only World Cup in 2006, before guiding Poland to their first Euros in 2008.
77. Marcelo Bielsa
Aged 25, Bielsa scouted 3,000 amateurs for his university squad of 20 – it would become the hallmark of El Loco’s career.
His scientific levels of analysis have astonished, inspired and often bemused players for three decades, leading to many of them – not least Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone – citing him as their biggest influence.
Bielsa’s attack-minded approach has excited, enthralled and probably changed football. His success should be measured beyond trophies. Just ask Leeds fans how they feel about him.
76. Guy Roux
Roux makes Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson’s tenures at Arsenal and Manchester United look poxy. The Frenchman occupied the Auxerre hot seat for a mind-boggling 41 years, including an astonishing uninterrupted spell between 1964 and 2000.
In that time Roux took the small-town side from the fourth tier to the first, then established them as one of Ligue 1’s best sides.
He even won four Coupes de France at the Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps, and led his beloved club into Europe on no fewer than 15 occasions.
75. Walter Smith
While friend Alex Ferguson turned Manchester red in the ’90s, Smith ensured that blue was the colour in Glasgow.
The Lanark man made Rangers the dominant force in Scotland mixing homegrown heroes with international idols, enticing the likes of Basile Boli, Gennaro Gattuso, Brian Laudrup and Paul Gascoigne in his first Ibrox spell.
Over two stints, Smith won 21 major trophies and is behind only stalwart Bill Struth as Rangers’ most successful coach.
74. Tina Theune
When it comes to the top female coaches in Europe, Theune was simply the best. The first woman in Germany to acquire the DFB’s elite coaching licence, she led her nation to three European Championship triumphs on the spin in 1997, 2001 and 2005.
The pinnacle came in 2003, however, when her Nationalelf were crowned world champions by defeating hosts USA 3-0, then edging out Sweden with a golden goal in the final. Better than anyone.
73. Didier Deschamps
Eric Cantona once gave Deschamps the disparaging moniker of ‘water carrier’, which stuck even after he’d hoisted world and European trophies for France.
As a manager, he’s upheld that success. Following Coupe de la Ligue joy with Monaco, the Bayonne native led them to the 2004 Champions League final; then, in 2010, directed Marseille’s most recent Ligue 1 triumph.
His crowning glory came in 2018, when he became only the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and manager.
72. Dettmar Cramer
A global ambassador of football, German Cramer coached in more than 90 nations around the world – notably in Japan, where he helped an inexperienced national team secure Olympic bronze in 1968.
“I never smiled, I had a foul temper – but they taught me patience,” he said of his spell, later honoured by Emperor Hirohito.
Nicknamed ‘The Professor’ by Franz Beckenbauer over his tactical fixation, Cramer returned home to win back-to-back European Cups with Bayern Munich in 1975 and 1976.
71. Howard Kendall
Mark Robins famously saved Alex Ferguson’s job by bagging the winner in an FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest in 1990.
The fate of an under-fire Kendall could have been similarly sealed had Adrian Heath and Graeme Sharp not notched late on to defeat Coventry in the third round of the 1983/84 League Cup.
Kendall went on to become the most decorated manager in Everton’s history, winning two First Division titles, an FA Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup at Goodison Park.
