This post ranked the most excellent managers In Barcelona’s history. And you will learn about their winning percentage, Including trophies won. Below is the list of the greatest Barcelona managers in the club’s history:
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Name | Matches | Win | Draw | Loss | Winning Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pep Guardiola | 247 | 179 | 47 | 21 | 72.47 |
Johan Cruyff | 430 | 250 | 97 | 83 | 58.14 |
Luis Enrique | 181 | 138 | 22 | 21 | 76.24 |
Ferdinand Daučík | 211 | 119 | 56 | 30 | 60.10 |
Ernesto Valverde | 145 | 97 | 32 | 16 | 66.90 |
Frank Rijkaard | 273 | 160 | 63 | 50 | 58.61 |
Louis van Gaal | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 53.33 |
Enrique Fernández | 77 | 43 | 19 | 15 | 55.83 |
Rinus Michels | 174 | 88 | 43 | 43 | 50.57 |
Tito Vilanova | 45 | 34 | 6 | 5 | 75.56 |
Let’s meet them.
1. Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola is often considered one of the most successful football managers of all time when it comes to winning trophies.
Back in 2009 when Guardiola took charge of Barcelona, In that very first year, Barcelona achieved what no other Spanish club had ever done before.
They won three major titles in a single season: La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League. Later in the same year, they became the first football team in history to win six major trophies in one calendar year.
These six trophies included La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League, plus the Supercopa de España (a Spanish domestic competition), the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. He is Barcelona’s most successful manager.
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2. Johan Cruyff
Before he took charge of the team in 1988, he had already gained a reputation as a coach in the Netherlands, known for his attacking style and talent-spotting abilities.
When he arrived at Barcelona, the club was in turmoil, facing financial woes and poor performances. Cruyff, with his right-hand man Carles Rexach, quickly implemented his attractive style of football.
This change wasn’t limited to the first team; even the youth squads embraced the attacking philosophy, making it easier for young talents to transition to the senior squad.
Cruyff’s spell brought in a new generation of stars, including Pep Guardiola, Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup, and Romário.
In five years, from 1989 to 1994, he led Barcelona to four European finals, winning one European Cup, four La Liga titles, one Cup Winners’ Cup, one Copa del Rey, and four Supercopa de España trophies.
His “Dream Team” clinched four consecutive La Liga titles and unforgettable European victories at Wembley Stadium.
The 1992 European Cup final, with Ronald Koeman’s stunning free-kick, was the highlight. However, Cruyff’s 11 trophies were eventually buried by his former protege, Pep Guardiola, who won 15.
3. Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique’s return to Barcelona as a manager in May 2014 was the beginning of a remarkable era for the club. He was recommended by sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, and Enrique took the reins with a two-year deal.
His Barcelona managerial career started with a 3-0 league win over Elche. However, Enrique faced challenges, including a loss to Real Madrid, tactical scrutiny, and reported conflicts with star player Lionel Messi.
Amidst dressing room unrest and Zubizarreta’s sacking, Enrique made a pivotal decision. He shifted the team’s formation, with Messi and Neymar as inverted wingers and Luis Suárez as the lone striker.
This change led to a resurgence, equalling Guardiola’s record of 11 consecutive victories and securing a spot in the Copa del Rey final.
He achieved a record-breaking 42 wins out of 50 games, led Barcelona to a treble (winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League) in the 2014-2015 season, and extended his contract until 2017.
The treble included a memorable victory over Juventus in the Champions League final. In March 2017, Enrique announced that he would step down as manager after the expiration of his contract in June.
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4. Ferdinand Daučík
Ferdinand Daučík’s time at Barcelona overlapped with one of the club’s most glorious periods. This was a time when legends like Nicolae Simatoc-Kubala, Juan Zambudio Velasco, Antoni Ramallets, and Joan Segarra graced the team’s roster.
Daučík’s four-season stint as manager was incredible. In 1952 and 1953, he guided Barcelona to back-to-back La Liga and Copa del Generalísimo (now Copa del Rey) doubles.
But that was just the beginning of the club’s triumphs under his leadership. In 1952, Barcelona clinched five different trophies.
These included not only La Liga and the Copa del Generalísimo but also the Copa Latina and the Copa Eva Duarte. However, Daučík’s contract came to an end in 1954, partly due to clashes with certain players.
5. Ernesto Valverde
Ernesto Valverde took the reins as Barcelona’s manager on May 29, 2017, following in the footsteps of Luis Enrique. His tenure started on a rocky note, with Barcelona losing both legs of the Spanish Super Cup to arch-rivals Real Madrid.
However, Valverde soon led the team on an impressive 29-match unbeaten run in all competitions, proving his tactical prowess. This streak continued until January 2018 when they faced defeat at the hands of Espanyol.
Barcelona bounced back and embarked on another unbeaten run of 15 matches, only to be eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by A.S. Roma in the quarter-finals.
Valverde’s Barcelona remained undefeated for a remarkable 43 matches in La Liga but suffered a shocking loss to Levante UD in May 2018. Despite this setback, they secured a league and cup double by defeating Sevilla 5-0 in the Copa del Rey final.
The following season, Barcelona started strongly, winning the domestic Supercup and securing a second consecutive league title under Valverde.
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6. Frank Rijkaard
Frank Rijkaard took the helm at Barcelona for the 2003-04 season during a period of significant change for the club. New president Joan Laporta had just been elected, and fans were disappointed that the club missed out on signing David Beckham.
Rijkaard inherited a team struggling to match the success of arch-rival Real Madrid, having not won a trophy since 1999.
His early days as manager were poor, with some fans calling for his resignation after a loss to Real Madrid in December 2003.
However, In 2004, he initiated a remarkable turnaround, steering Barcelona from near relegation to La Liga runners-up.
We felt Rijkaard’s true transformation when he revamped the squad around Ronaldinho, adding talents like Deco, Samuel Eto’o, Rafael Márquez, and Ludovic Giuly.
He also promoted young talents like Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta. Then, Barcelona won back-to-back La Liga titles in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
He became the first Barcelona coach to win twice at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. In 2006, he led Barcelona to victory in the UEFA Champions League, defeating Arsenal 2-1 in the final. Nonetheless, in 2008, after a disappointing loss to Real Madrid, he stepped down as head coach.
7. Louis van Gaal
Louis van Gaal took over the managerial role in 1997 from Bobby Robson and made an immediate impact, helping Barcelona secure two La Liga titles (1997-98 and 1998-99) and the Copa del Rey. Despite these accomplishments, van Gaal often found himself at odds with the media and faced criticism.
He cited cultural differences as a challenge in implementing his football philosophy, and clashes with certain players further complicated matters.
One notable disagreement was with Rivaldo, who preferred to play in the center but was asked to play as a left-winger by van Gaal. However, Van Gaal left Barcelona in May 2000, shortly after losing the league title to Deportivo de La Coruña.
His departure was accompanied by the memorable line, “Amigos de la prensa. Yo me voy. Felicidades” (“Friends of the press. I am leaving. Congratulations”). He returned to Barcelona for the 2002-03 season but faced inconsistency.
While the team had a successful run in the Champions League, they struggled in La Liga, and a series of defeats led to his departure in January 2003.
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8. Enrique Fernández
Enrique Fernández made a short impactful appearance in Barcelona’s managerial history. In 1947, he became the manager of FC Barcelona, bringing with him a talented squad featuring players like Velasco, Ramallets, and Estanislao Basora.
During his time, Barcelona achieved notable success, clinching two La Liga titles consecutively in 1948 and 1949. Their triumphs weren’t limited to domestic competitions, as they also secured the inaugural Copa Latina.
However, despite these achievements, Barcelona faced challenges during Fernández’s third season in charge. They finished fifth in La Liga, a disappointment given their recent success. This downturn in performance led to Fernández being replaced by Fernando Daucik in the following season.
9. Rinus Michels
Rinus Michels is a legendary figure in football history, and his influence on Barcelona during his managerial stint in the early 1970s is still celebrated today.
He came to Barcelona in 1971, and when Johan Cruyff joined in 1973, his impact grew even more Together, Michels and Cruyff rejuvenated Barcelona’s footballing fortunes.
In 1974, they led the team to the Primera División title as their partnership brought a new era of success to Barcelona.
Michels is widely recognized for introducing the groundbreaking football philosophy and tactical approach known as “Total Football” in the 1970s.
This creative style emphasized fluidity, positional interchangeability, and a holistic approach to the game. It has since become a cornerstone of modern football.
FIFA named him Coach of the Century in 1999, The Times honored him as the greatest post-war football coach in 2007, and in 2019, France Football regarded him as the greatest coach in the history of football.
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10. Tito Vilanova
Tito Vilanova stepped into big shoes when he succeeded Pep Guardiola as Barcelona’s manager in 2012. His connection with the club ran deep, with Lionel Messi revealing that he was the first coach to trust and start him in their under-16 teams.
One of Vilanova’s remarkable achievements was fielding a team comprising 11 academy graduates during a league game against Levante UD in November 2012. Barcelona had a great season, losing only eight competitive matches and scoring in every league fixture.
They clinched their 22nd domestic championship with an astounding 15-point lead, totaling 100 points in the process. However, his time as manager was tragically cut short due to health issues, and he had to step down.
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