List of football managers with the most games
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Football Managers with 1,000 or more 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 1,560 Football League matches in a 33-year career which took in spells with Wimbledon, Crystal Palace and three spells in 28 years at Crewe Alexandra.
Other managers on the list include former England managers Bobby Robson and Graham Taylor, the current 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 who holds both 1,000 or more games in clubs (1,083 in first level on pyramid) as 100 or more games in national teams.
| # | Name | Team(s) (years) | P | W | D | L | Win% | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Alex Ferguson |
• 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 |  Arsène Wenger |
• Nancy (1984-1987) • Monaco (1987-1994) • Nagoya Grampus Eight (1995-1996) • Arsenal (1996-2018) |
1,701 | 918 | 367 | 416 | 54.0 | ? |
| 3 |  Graham Turner |
• 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 | Alec Stock |
• 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 | Willie Maley |
• Celtic (1897-1940) |
1,611 | 1,039 | 314 | 258 | 64.5 | ? |
| 6 |  Dario Gradi |
• Sutton United (1976-1977) • Wimbledon (1978-1981) • Crystal Palace (1981) • Crewe Alexandra (1983-2007, 2008, 2009-2011) |
1,560 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 7 | Jim Smith |
• 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 | ? |
| 8 | Bobby Robson |
• 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 | ? |
| 9 | Harry Redknapp |
• 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 | ? |
| 10 | Graham Taylor |
• 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 | ? |
| 11 | Giovanni Trapattoni |
• 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 | ? |
| 12 | Neil Warnock |
• 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–Present) |
1,379 | 556 | 389 | 434 | 40.3 | ? |
| 13 | George Ramsay |
• Aston Villa (1884-1926) | 1,327 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 14 | Brian Clough |
• 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 | ? |
| 15 | Carlo Mazzone |
• 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 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 16 |  Otto Rehhagel |
• 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 | ? |
| 17 | Jupp Heynckes |
• Borussia Mönchengladbach (1979–1987, 2006–2007) • Bayern Munich (1987–1991, 2009, 2011–2013, 2016-) • 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 | ? |
| 18 | Denis Smith |
• 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 | |
| 19 |  Ignacio Trelles |
• 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 | |
| 20 | Bill Struth |
• Rangers (1920-1954) | 1,179 | 788 | 228 | 163 | 66.83 | |
| 21 | Lennie Lawrence |
• 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 | ? |
| 22 | Willie McCartney |
• Heart of Midlothian (1919-1935) • Hibernian (1936-1948) |
1,158 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 23 | Matt Busby |
• Manchester United (1945-1969, 1970-1971) • Scotland (1958) |
1,147 | 577 | 268 | 302 | 50.3 | ? |
| 24 |  Ricardo Ferretti |
• 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 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 25 | Alan Buckley |
• 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 | ? |
| 26 | Jack Addenbrooke |
• Wolverhampton Wanderers (1885-1922) | 1,125 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 27 | Jim Jefferies |
• 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 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 28 | Joe Royle |
• Oldham Athletic (1982-1994, 2009) • Everton (1994-1997) • Manchester City (1998-2001) • Ipswich Town (2002-2006) | 1,096 | 428 | 300 | 368 | 39.2 | ? |
| 29 | Brian Horton |
• 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 | ? |
| 30 | Jim McLean |
• Dundee United (1971-1993) | 1,094 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 31 |  John Toshack |
• 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 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 32 |  Sven-Göran Eriksson |
• 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 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 33 | Ron Atkinson |
• 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 | ? |
| 34 | Danny Wilson |
• 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 | ? |
| 35 |  Luis Aragonés |
• 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) |
1,048 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 36 | Ottmar Hitzfeld |
• 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 | ? |
| 37 | Jock Stein |
• Dunfermline Athletic (1960–1964) • Hibernian (1964–1965) • Scotland (1965, 1978–1985) • Celtic (1965–1978) • Leeds United (1978) |
1,038 | 660 | 174 | 204 | 63.6 | ? |
| 38 | Tony Pulis |
• 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 | ? |
Football National Team Managers with 100 or more games
| Name | Age | From | To | Span (years) | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Velibor Milutinovic |
79 | 1983 | 2009 | 26 | 273 |
| Berti Vogts |
77 | 1990 | 2014 | 24 | 230 |
| Lars Lagerback |
76 | 2000 | present | 16 | 190 |
 Carlos Queiroz |
76 | 1991–2002, 2008 | present | 13 | 178 |
 Óscar Tabárez |
77 | 1988-1990, 2006 | present | 28 | 173 |
| Sepp Herberger |
79 | 1936 | 1964 | 28 | 167 |
 Morten Olsen |
74 | 2000 | 2015 | 15 | 163 |
| Walter Winterbottom |
88 | 1946 | 1962 | 16 | 139 |
| Helmut Schon |
80 | 1964 | 1978 | 14 | 139 |
 Bruce Arena |
72 | 1998-2006, 2016 | present | 19 | 144 |
| Joachim Low |
64 | 2006 | present | 10 | 143 |
 Lajos Baróti |
91 | 1957 | 1978 | 21 | 132 |
 Antoni Piechniczek |
82 | 1981 | 1997 | 16 | 128 |
| Roy Hodgson |
76 | 1992 | present | 24 | 128 |
 Guillermo Stábile |
61 | 1939 | 1960 | 21 | 127 |
| Mario Zagallo |
92 | 1967 | 1974 | 7 | 124 |
| Carlos Alberto Parreira |
81 | 1967 | 2010 | 43 | +100 |
| Vicente del Bosque |
73 | 2008 | 2016 | 8 | 114 |
| Alf Ramsey |
79 | 1963 | 1974 | 11 | 113 |
 Hugo Meisl |
55 | 1919 | 1937 | 18 | 131 |
| Jürgen Klinsmann |
60 | 2004-2006, 2011 | 2016 | 12 | 132 |
| Ignacio Trelles |
108 | 1957, 1960-1962, 1965-1969, 1975-1976, 1990 | 1991 | 31 | 106 |
