Real Madrid longest serving Managers in club’s history | Ranked

The Spanish giants Real Madrid are in a league of their own among other top European clubs in terms of both on-field and off-field success. They have been crowned as the champions of Spain for the most number of times, claiming 36 La Liga titles and 20 Copa del Rey trophies. Moreover, the Whites are also the most successful club in Europe and the world with a record 15 UEFA Champions League and 5 FIFA Club World Cup triumphs. Real Madrid’s iconic home Santiago Bernabeu is a dream destination for any professional player and manager, over the years legendary players and managers have served the club as the head coach of Los Blancos.

Unsurprisingly, the La Liga outfit is also the most supported and richest football club in 2024 in the world. Reputable and renowned tacticians have worked at Real Madrid while managing a roaster full of footballing superstars and leading them to achieve significant glory. Notably, the philosophy has not changed throughout the club’s history. It’s the most desired choice for any elite manager, presently widely admired Italian manager Carlo Ancelloti is in charge of the Los Blancos consisting of some of the world’s biggest names in the team. On that note, we will list the top 10 Real Madrid longest serving managers in the club’s history.

10. Vujadin Boškov – 1.5 Years

Vujadin Boškov was a legendary figure in Yugoslavia football, he achieved greatness as a player and later turned into a coach after retirement. He won 57 International Caps for Yugoslavia during his playing years. As manager Boskov spent a considerable stint as the head coach of Los Blancos managing 157 games across all competitions. He also led Real Madrid to claim the La Liga title in the 1979/80 season and two Copa Del Rey glories in the 1979/80 and 1981/82 campaigns.

9. John Toshack – 2 Years

John Toshack is only amongst the four British coaches who have managed Real Madrid, he had two brief spells in the Spanish capital from 1989 to 1990 and then in 1999 as interim manager, and led them to lift the club’s fifth successive La Liga trophy during his first spell in the 1989/90 season. Under his reign, Los Blancos were the strongest team in Spain implementing a robust attacking style of play. In the 1990 title charge, Madrid scored an astonishing 107 record goals one of the highest-ever goal tallys by the team in the history of La Liga.

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8. Leo Beenhakker – 3 Years

Leo Beenhakker was appointed as Real Madrid’s manager in 1986 after managing a few Dutch and Spanish clubs such as Veendam, SC Cambuur and Real Zaragoza. His time with Los Blancos was marked by significant domestic success, his tactical philosophy turned the club into an attacking powerhouse and clinched three La Liga titles in a row from 1986 to 1989. While in the 1988/89 season, Madrid also secured the Spanish Cup Copa Del Rey while managing over 200 games across all competitions.

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7. José Mourinho – 3 Years

In 2010, Jose Mourinho arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu on the back of a treble-winning campaign with Serie A giants Inter Milan. He was at the helm of Real Madrid as manager for three years till 2013 overseeing 173 matches from the sidelines. Mourinho delivered huge success in lifting the Spanish title, Spanish Cup and Spanish Super Cup and steered them to the semi-final in the UEFA Champions League on three successive occasions. Under Jose’s supervision, Los Blancos netted a record-breaking 121 goals in the 2011/12 campaign which still holds the title of highest goal tally by any team in the Spanish top tier.

6. Luis Molowny – 3 Years

Luis Molowny began coaching Real Madrid youth teams and also served as their interim manager before taking up the full-time role as the head coach in four different spells (1974, 1977/79, 1982, and 1985/86). He helped to club during turbulent periods sustaining its competitiveness and achieving monumental success with three La Liga triumphs, and two Copa Del Rey domestically. While, in Europe, the Spanish club were crowned the UEFA Cup (Europa League) champions in back-to-back 1984/85 and 1985/86 seasons.

5. Vicente del Bosque – 4 Years

Vicente del Bosque is regarded as one of the greatest Real Madrid managers, Bosque is widely respected for his time as the manager at Santiago Bernabeu from 1999 to 2003 being in charge for 4 years. The Spaniard administrated 233 matches for the La Liga giants, under his guidance the Whites secured eight big trophies including two UEFA Champions League in 1999/00 and 2001/02 seasons, when Zidane scored the iconic goal in the final, La Liga twice, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super cup and Intercontinental cup enforcing global dominance.

4. Carlo Ancelotti – 5 Years

The current Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is the fourth longest-serving manager with over 5 years and still counting, the Italian first spell came back in 2013 when he was hired to replace Jose Mourinho and guided the club to the famous La Décima (10th UEFA Champions League trophy. In 2021, Ancelloti returned to Santiago Bernabeu this time replacing Zinedine Zidane from Premier League club Everton and directed the Los Blancos to triumph in two Champions League, two Spanish league titles and two Uefa and Spanish Super Cup making him the most decorated Real Madrid manager.

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3. Zinedine Zidane – 5 Years

Zinedine Zidane‘s three-peat is fondly remembered by Real Madrid fans, he has created an unmatched legacy wearing Los Blanco’s colours as a player and also head coach. During his entire managing career, he has only coached Madrid for five years earning the designation of second on the list of Real Madrid’s longest-serving manager in two stints. Under his reign, the club won 11 trophies including three UEFA Champions League, two La Ligas, two UEFA Super Cups, two Spanish Super Cups and as many Club World Cups establishing Real Madrid as a force to be reckoned with across Europe.

2. Juan de Cárcer – 6 Years

Juan de Cárcer was the Spanish club’s first-ever head coach and 2nd on the list of Real Madrid longest serving managers devoting six years at Real Madrid as their manager from 1920 to 1926. He won five trophies which included four regional championship titles in 71 matches for the club, this was before the formation of La Liga. And, he also laid the foundation for the club to prepare for future success during the early years of the club. De Carcer also managed Real Madrid’s city rivals Atletico Madrid, with Los Blancos in his managing career.

1. Miguel Muñoz – 14 Years

Miguel Munoz is the longest-serving Real Madrid manager who dedicated 14 long years of his coaching leaving an unrivalled print in the club’s rich history with his legacy. He was on touchlines for Los Blancos in a staggering 542 matches throughout his tenure and won a remarkable 9 La Liga titles (most Spanish league titles by any manager) two European titles and three Spanish cups. Miguel Munoz added 14 prestigious trophies to the club’s trophy-laden cabinet till 1974 when he left the club to conclude his lengthened tenure at Santiago Bernabeu. Then Luis Molowny was appointed as Munonz’s successor in the same year.

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