International football is the grand colosseum of the game where the true mettle of players and football managers alike is tested. In global events, nations from all over the world arrive with their star-studded squads, but only a few savour the taste of glory in the end. Many of these countries have been led by some of the legendary footballer managers to the prestigious silverware at times, while many failed to live up to the expectations and potential by leaving the highest level of football in embarrassing fashion.
Big football playing nations like Brazil, Argentina, Italy and Spain have been spearheaded by several geniuses on their sidelines over the years, with them setting a standard for others to follow. From FIFA World Cup to UEFA Euro Championship, from Copa America to recently-orchestrated Nations League, these football masterminds have been able to bear the burden of an entire nation as they synchronized with the hopes and dreams of billions of people.
There are many football managers who made podium finishes in major tournaments, while others had to stay satisfied with a chance to fight for another day despite putting on magical displays. Having said that, we have compiled a list of the top international managers who have been immensely successful in the sport.
Ranking Factors
The list of most successful international football managers has been made using a transparent method where number of trophies and longevity have been prioritized over other factors. For instance, if a manager has won a FIFA World Cup title then he or she has been awarded with more importance on this tally.
- Number of major trophies won
- Historical importance
- Longevity
Also read: Top 10 Football Managers with Most Trophies in History
List of Greatest International Football Managers
| Rank | Football Manager | Country (coach) |
| 1 | Vittorio Pozzo | Italy |
| 2 | Guillermo Stabile | Argentina |
| 3 | Lionel Scaloni | Argentina |
| 4 | Vicente del Bosque | Spain |
| 5 | Carlos Alberto Parreira | Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait |
| 6 | Hassan Shehata | Egypt |
| 7 | Helmut Schon | West Germany |
| 8 | Alfio Basile | Argentina |
| 9 | Bruce Arena | USA |
| 10 | Vicente Feola | Brazil |
10. Vicente Feola (Brazil)
Vicente Feola will always remain as one of the most beloved characters in Brazilian football history, as the legendary football manager orchestrated the country’s journey to their first ever FIFA World Cup title in 1958. Under his stewardship, Selecao became the first and only to date, South American team to lift the global silverware in Europe.
He also provided a major boost in Pele’s career by fast-tracking his rise in the highly-qualified ranks of the Brazil team when Pele was just a 17-year-old kid. Many might argue about Feola’s inclusion on this list, but his contribution in reshaping Samba magic in football can not be forgotten.
| Number of games | 22 |
| Wins | – |
| Major trophies | 1958 FIFA World Cup |
9. Bruce Arena (USA)
The sudden surge in USA football is no shocking matter, as a mastermind named Bruce Arena built the foundation stone of this rise. The country’s most successful period in world football came when Arena was at the helm. When he took charge in 1998 for the first time, the Yanks were still struggling to make a global mark.
Arena, a battle-hardened football manager, who enjoyed a great spell of success with the MLS club DC United, propelled the USMNT to two Gold Cup successes in 2002 and 2005 respectively. Even before that, he took his side to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup. The Yanks also registered their highest ever FIFA ranking of four during his time. He left them in 2006 and again returned in 2016. In just one year, the greatest football manager in the history of the USA won another Gold Cup, cementing his place as one of the most successful managers in football history.
| Number of games | 148 |
| Wins | 81 |
| Major trophies | 3 Gold Cups (2002, 2005, 2017) |
8. Alfio Basile (Argentina)
Alfio Basile, nicknamed Coco, was like an energy spark in the rejuvenation of Argentine football. He became the manager of La Albiceleste in 1991 and made them the crowning champions of Copa America within the first year on the job. This was just a start to his great managerial career before producing another South American Championship title winning campaign two years later.
Basile also played a crucial role in bringing back Diego Maradona to the international stage, which ended in a bad fashion after the legendary footballer was banned for a drug case. Basile was on the sidelines for Argentina on 76 occasions before resigning in 1998.
| Number of games | 76 |
| Wins | 39 |
| Major trophies | 2 Copa America (1991, 1993) |
7. Helmut Schon (West Germany)
There is a popular saying in football: “Good football is nothing without trophies.” Helmut Schon’s ideology circled around this idea. He transformed the West Germany football team into a brute force in football and became a successful manager at the international level by utilizing his team as a functioning tool. He is one of the two coaches to have won the Euro and the FIFA World Cup to date.
If fate didn’t take a u-turn, Schon would have won multiple World Cup titles instead of lifting only one in 1974. Before that, he led the West Germany team to the 1972 Euro Championship title amidst the chaos of the Cold War. He still remains the only coach to have coached and won the most number of matches in World Cup history.
| Number of games | 139 |
| Wins | 87 |
| Major trophies | 1 World Cup (1974), 1 UEFA Euro (1972) |
6. Hassan Shehata (Egypt)
Hassan Shehata became one of the most successful international managers when he set the record of winning three back-to-back African Cup of Nations titles with Egypt. The footballing genius enjoyed a lengthy managerial journey of 17 appointments before making it the coaching role of the Egyptians.
Under his rule in the dressing room, Egypt enjoyed the most successful period in their history, registering a top-10 global ranking in 2010.
| Number of games | 90 |
| Wins | 56 |
| Major trophies | 3 AFCONs (2006, 2008, 2010) |
5. Carlos Alberto Parreira (Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait)
Carlos Alberto Parreira boasts one of the lengthiest international coaching careers in history. In a 43-year long career, he managed six different nations across the world. He is also the only football manager to have won two different continental tournaments, having won Copa America with Brazil and two Asia Cups with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
He completed his major international trophy collection after leading his native Brazil to 1994 FIFA World Cup title before winning the 2004 Copa America trophy.
| Number of games | 294 |
| Wins | 101 |
| Major trophies | 1 World Cup (1994), 1 Copa America (2004), 2 Asia Cups (1980, 1988) |
4. Vicente del Bosque (Spain)
When Spain won the 2008 UEFA Euro Championship, Vicente del Bosque stood there on the sidelines silently as if he knew his time in international football as the manager of Spain had just begun. One of the greatest managers in the modern era, del Bosque continued the winning momentum with his country as they won the biggest prize in football, the FIFA World Cup title in 2010 for the first time in history.
Later, he shifted his focus from international football to club arena and took over the coaching role at Real Madrid. But, whenever the rise of Spanish football will be discussed, he will be the first to be remembered.
| Number of games | 114 |
| Wins | 87 |
| Major trophies | 1 FIFA World Cup (2010), 1 UEFA Euro (2008) |
3. Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)
Lionel Scaloni’s greatness lies in his contributions in establishing South American football as the global leader, ending European dominance in recent years. He is widely regarded as the most successful international football manager currently, following his unimaginable few years with Argentina that saw La Albiceleste win three major titles – 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2021, 2023 Copa America titles.
Despite no earlier international experience, Scaloni was handed the national coaching duty in 2019 which ended in a bad fashion. But, since 2021, he has been able to form a formidable squad with Lionel Messi on the front. For now, he is just reaping benefits in all major tournaments.
| Number of games | 83 |
| Wins | 58 |
| Major trophies | 1 FIFA World Cup (2022), 2 Copa America (2021, 2023) |
2. Guillermo Stabile (Argentina)
Another Argentine coach Guillermo Stabile is on the list of the greatest international football managers. The 1930 FIFA World Cup top scorer, Stabile began his coaching career at Genoa. After stints with multiple clubs, he took over the Argentina national football team in 1939 and was at the helm for a long 19 years.
In this impressive journey, he won six South American Championship titles with La Albiceleste, overseeing more than 100 matches in the process. Despite being greatly successful in continental football, Stabile failed to deliver at the global stage. He retired from coaching in 1960.
| Number of games | 86 |
| Wins | 60 |
| Major trophies | 6 Copa America (1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957) |
1. Vittorio Pozzo (Italy)
If World Cup success is the parameter of greatness, there can be no one more deserving of the title of the most successful international football manager than the great Vittorio Pozzo. The Italian genius still remains the only coach to have won the FIFA World Cup trophy on multiple occasions. He led his country to the global silverwares in the second (1934) and third editions (1938) of the tournament.
He was also at the helm of the Italian team when they clinched the gold medal in the 1936 Olympic Games. From 1929 to 1948, Pozzo coached his country across four different spells, overseeing over 85 games. He also holds the record of the longest reign as the manager of an European national football team.
| Number of games | 87 |
| Wins | 60 |
| Major trophies | 2 World Cup (1934, 1938) |
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FAQ’s
1.Who is the most successful international manager in football history?
Vittorio Pozzo is the most successful international manager in football history. He won two World Cup titles with Italy.
2.Which manager has the longest reign in international football?
In men’s football, it’s Guillermo Stabile who holds the record of the longest reign in international football (18 years and 306 days).
3.How many major tournaments did Carlos Alberto Parreira win?
Carlos Alberto Parreira won four major international tournaments – Copa America and FIFA World Cup with Brazil, and two Asia Cups with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.