Ranking Real Madrid's best coaches

Football coaches orchestrate behind the scenes as the media focuses mainly on athletes. Coaches are the main architects behind a team's season but never bathe in their glory. In modern-day football, coaches are expendable, unlike players. When looking at world-class teams like Real Madrid, coaches must deliver steady positive results in order to remain on the job. Let's look at some of Real Madrid's most renowned coaches!

Zinedine Zidane, arguably one of the best galacticos during the early 2000s would later pick up a managerial role at Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti.

Zidane's era as a galactico was a magical one. He was surrounded by some of the best players in the world, a generation of players that would carry on the Real Madrid DNA.

Zizu began his managerial career in 2013 after being named Carlo Ancelotti's second coach. A big season for the club after winning the long-awaited Copa del Rey against long-time rival, FC Barcelona.

During the 2013/2014 campaign, Real Madrid won the iconic 'decima' Champions League title after beating Atletico de Madrid in a frenetic 4-1 comeback. Zidane's debut season was a great success!

In 2014, Zidane was given the main managerial role for Real Madrid Castilla. The French coach polished his tactics under Madrid's youth squads until he was named Real Madrid's head coach in January 2016.

Zidane later guided 'Los Blancos' to three consecutive UEFA Champions League finals, winning every single one of them. His ability to manage the squad and keep egos in check makes him one of Real Madrid's greatest coaches ever.

The Santiago Bernabeu witnessed Vicente del Bosque, another great coach in the making. His calm and composed demeanor translated into success during his four-year stint. Real Madrid snatched two Champions League titles and two La Liga titles during Del Bosque's era.

His ability to manage egos and keep the squad engaged left an indelible mark on the club's history. Ten years later after leaving Real Madrid, he would deliver Spain's first ever World Cup in 2010!

José Mourinho is one of those coaches you either love or you hate. His unique charisma and tactical genius secured a long-awaited La Liga title and a Copa del Rey.

Mourinho's fiery character and competitive mentality really shaped Real Madrid to what it is today. At the time of his signing, the club was struggling to secure titles. The Special One arrived at the Spanish capital with a very clear message: "Win, win, and win"!

Mourinho's impact, though controversial at times, cannot be denied. He felt many legends at the club were begging to feel complacent, lacking the motivation to win. His solution, bench those who lacked the right attitude.

Don Carlo Ancelotti is a legend at the Bernabeu. The Italian maestro returned to Madrid in 2021 to pick up where he left off a couple of years back. Ancelotti understands how Real Madrid works, he knows the club well and embodies its culture to perfection.

The Italian coach is known for his attacking play and his obsession with good football. He is a highly respect coach amongst players and he is a key factor in the squad's happiness. He has won every title with Real Madrid!

At times, he has been criticized for his stubbornness on the pitch, resisting substitutions and squad rotations. Nevertheless, he is the mastermind behind the squad's generational transition.

Real Madrid's coaching legacy is a tapestry woven with the brilliance of tacticians who navigated the complexities of managing one of the world's most demanding clubs. While opinions on the best coach may vary among fans, there's no denying the impact these maestros have had on the rich history of Los Blancos and in world football.