Key Takeaway:

Real Madrid's managerial role is prestigious but demanding, requiring immense success. Explore the top 5 managers who navigated pressure, including José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Vicente del Bosque, Zinedine Zidane, and Miguel Muñoz, in the club's storied history.

Who are the greatest managers in Real Madrid history?

José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Vicente del Bosque, Zinedine Zidane, and Miguel Muñoz are hailed as Real Madrid's top managers, each leaving an indelible mark on the club's legacy.

The manager's position at Real Madrid would undeniably be a dream job for most coaches in football. They are seen by many to be the biggest club in existence, and being their manager Is an indication of achieving the highest level of managerial success. Real Madrid tolerates nothing less than the best, and this is what makes the job of a coach at the Bernabéu one of the most stressful jobs in football. The standards set by the club are so high, and hence a manager would be required to achieve immense success in any season for Los Blancos. 

In this article we will be looking at the 5 greatest managers in Real Madrid history, who were able to withstand all the pressure and achieve historical success with the Spanish giants.

José Mourinho

After achieving a historic treble with Inter Milan, José Mourinho arrived at Real Madrid with a major challenge in front of him. He had to overcome one of the greatest Barca sides in history under Pep Guardiola to win La Liga. Despite his time at Madrid having major ups and downs, the 2011/12 season with Madrid will go down as one of his greatest achievements. The Special was able to get the better of Pep's magnificent Barca side that season, with Madrid winning La Liga with a sensational 100 points. Mourinho's time at Real Madrid had undeniably set the foundation for the immense successes the club had after his departure.

Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti will forever be one of the most loved coaches in the history of the club. His first stint as Real Madrid coach saw them achieve the historic La Décima, which finally ended their 12 year wait for the club's favorite title. The following season wasn't as successful and Ancelotti was unfortunately sacked by the club. 6 years later he was back again, and this time he won both La Liga and yet another Champions League with Los Blancos. The current season has ended in disappointment for Real Madrid and Ancelotti, but they will be undoubtedly expected to rise back next season.

Vincente del Bosque

Vicente del Bosque will always be name that stands out in the history books of Real Madrid, as he is someone that went on to win multiple titles with the club both as a player and manager. He had coached Real Madrid on 3 different occasions, with the first 2 stints being as caretaker manager. It was during his 3rd stint that he went on to establish himself as one of the greatest coaches in Los Blancos history. During his 5 years with Madrid as club manager, Vincente del Bosque went on to win 2 La Liga titles, 2 Champions Leagues, and a UEFA Super Cup as well.

Zinedine Zidane

When Zinedine Zidane left Real Madrid as a player, he had established himself as a club legend and one of the greatest to have played for Los Blancos. A decade later, Zidane returned to Madrid, this time as their coach. A large section of people had warned the Frenchman at the time of the risks of the job, and how it could ruin his legacy within the club. What followed was arguably the greatest ever phase of domination in the history of modern club football, as Zidane went on to build an unstoppable Madrid team built around their greatest player in Cristiano Ronaldo. A historic three-peat was achieved and Zidane left as a hero. He returned a year later for a second stint, which saw him win La Liga with Los Blancos and prove to everyone that he was able to do it even without the legendary CR7.

Miguel Munoz

Real Madrid's greatest ever manager had a legendary 14 year stint with the club, which would sound unbelievable for the modern football fan. Los Blancos always expects the best, and the slightest dip in standards could have you sacked. This is why Miguel Munoz is easily considered to be the greatest to have managed the team, as it would surely be impossible for another coach to replicate what he did at Real Madrid. Munoz had a legendary team that had the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Paco Gento. He had won 9 league titles and 2 European cups during his legendary tenure at the club.

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