Jose Mourinho added to his interminable trophy cabinet by guiding AS Roma to UEFA Europa Conference League glory on Wednesday night.
The ‘Special One’ oversaw a considered and canny 1-0 victory over Feyenoord in Tirana, Albania; guiding the Romans to the first major European trophy of their illustrious history.
It also ended a five-year drought for Mourinho himself who hadn’t gotten his hands on silverware since guiding Manchester United to Europa League glory in 2017.
Most decorated managers since 2000
However, despite giving his coaching adversaries some time to catch up, Mourinho still ranks as the third-most decorated manager in the men’s game since the turn of the 21st century.
Transfermarkt revealed ahead of the Conference League final that Mourinho stood on the podium with 24 major honours, which has since swelled to a quarter of century with this week’s triumph.
But who are the only two managers to win more trophies and who else makes up the list? Well, fear not, because you can check out the 10 most decorated coaches since 2000 down below:
=9. Roberto Mancini – 14
Winning Euro 2020 has put the cherry on top of a glorious century from Mancini which has reaped three Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia wins, a Premier League title and even a Turkish Cup for good measure.
9. Stephen Kenny – 14
Kenny has mopped up major honours almost everywhere he’s gone across his time in Irish football, delivering silverware for Bohemians, Derry City, Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk.
8. Laurent Blanc – 15
Buoyed by the customary glut of silverware that comes with being Paris Saint-Germain manager, Blanc boasts a whole host of titles from French football with no less than 11 cup triumphs.
7. David Jeffrey – 16
Another highly-decorated coach on the island of Ireland, Jeffrey spent 17 years as head coach of Linfield in which time he led them to nine Irish Premier League titles and a slew of domestic honours.
6. Sir Alex Ferguson – 20
He had to be here, didn’t he? Ferguson led United to eight Premier League titles, three League Cups, one FA Cup, one Champions League and one FIFA Club World Cup crown since the turn of the century.
5. Ramon Tribulietx – 20
The man behind eight OFC Champions League titles and a whole host of other domestic honours in New Zealand during a lucrative nine-year spell as Auckland City coach between 2010 and 2019.
4. Carlo Ancelotti – 22
Hold this thought because Ancelotti could move up to 23 trophies if he adds yet another Champions League title to his 2003, 2007 and 2014 triumphs this weekend to go with his many accolades since 2000.
3. Jose Mourinho – 25
The man himself. Mourinho boasts winners’ medals in the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Champions League, Europa League, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, Primeira Liga and Fa Cup to name just a few.
2. Mircea Lucescu – 29
Lucescu won the Ukrainian Premier League no less than eight times with Shakhtar Donetsk, before completing the domestic double with Dynamo Kyiv and also enjoying success in Russia with Zenit Saint Petersburg.
1. Pep Guardiola – 32
Four Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, three La Liga crowns, three Bundesliga wins and three FIFA Club World Cup triumphs are just the tip of the iceberg for the peerless Guardiola.
Mourinho amongst the greats
Make no mistake, Mourinho is one of the greatest managers of all time.
It might have been hard to watch his Tottenham Hotspur tenure and how things ended at United, but the ‘Special One’ is right up there with the very best when it comes to pure trophy totals.
And let’s face it, that’s what football clubs are ultimately after with supporters more likely to turn a blind eye to Mourinho’s – how shall we say? – less than desirable brand of play if it culminates in cold, hard silverware.
The metalwork might have been harder to come by in recent seasons, but rest assured that Mourinho’s return to winning ways keeps him firmly at the top table of managerial greats.
Source: GiveMeSports
