Real Madrid Managers: All-time list of Blancos bosses, and how long they lasted

Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
  • Updated: 4 Nov 2024 19:40 GMT
  • 4 min read
Carlo Ancelotti
© IMAGO

Real Madrid are officially the most successful football club in both Spanish and European history.

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Los Blancos have won an incredible 105 trophies since their formation in 1902, two more than arch-rivals Barcelona, while their 15 Champions League victories cannot be topped by anyone. In fact, the second-most fruitful club in Europe are AC Milan, who have just seven titles - half of Real Madrid’s tally.

Interestingly, the most successful Real Madrid manager in history - by virtue of win percentage only - is Manuel Pellegrini, who spent one measly season in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu (2009/10) and did not win a single trophy.

READ: Premier League managers: Full list of current bosses as Spurs appoint Postecoglou

The Chilean manager was, however, up against the might of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona at the peak of their powers.

Current manager Carlo Ancelotti’s first spell in charge ranks second in the list of the highest win rates in Real Madrid history, ahead of Jose Mourinho.

Jose Mourinho with Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid
© ProShots - Jose Mourinho with Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid

In total, Real Madrid have had 43 different managers in their history. Ancelotti, Zinedine Zidane, John Toshack, Luis Molowny, Jacinto Quincoces, and Fabio Capello have all enjoyed two separate spells as Los Blancos manager.

Real Madrid managers list

The record of every Real Madrid manager in history?

ManagerFromToWin %
Manuel PellegriniJune 2009May 201075%
Carlo AncelottiJune 2013May 201575%
Jose MourinhoMay 2010June 201372%
Luis CarnigliaJune 1957February 195971%
Zinedine ZidaneJanuary 2016May 201870%
Manuel FleitasJuly 1959April 196070%
Carlo AncelottiJune 2021Present70%
Radomir AnticMarch 1991January 199269%
Rafael BenitezJune 2015January 201668%
Robert Firth1932193467%
Juande RamosDecember 2008June 200967%
Jose Berraondo1927192966%
Fabio CapelloJuly 1996June 199765%
John ToshackJuly 1989November 199064%
Luis MolownyApril 1985June 198664%
Leo BeenhakkerJuly 1986June 198963%
Jose VillalongaDecember 1954June 195763%
Vanderlei LuxemburgoDecember 2004December 200562%
Enrique FernandezMay 1953December 195462%
Juan Antonio IpinaApril 1952May 195362%
Zinedine ZidaneMarch 2019May 202161%
Francisco Bru1934194160%
Miguel MunozApril 1960January 197459%
Bernd SchusterJuly 2007December 200859%
Alfredo Di StefanoJuly 1982May 198458%
Carlos QueirozJune 2003May 200458%
Vujadin BoskovJune 1979March 198258%
Luis MolownySeptember 1977June 197957%
Benito FloroJuly 1992March 199457%
Fabio CapelloJuly 2006June 200756%
Guus HiddinkJuly 1998February 199956%
Vicente del BosqueNovember 1999June 200355%
Ramon EncinasSeptember 1943May 194554%
Hector ScaroneMarch 1951April 195252%
Jacinto QuincocesMay 1945March 194651%
Baltasar AlbenizMarch 1946April 194751%
John ToshackFebruary 1999November 199951%
Lippo Hertzka1930193250%
Juan Armet1941September 194350%
Miljan MiljanicMay 1974September 197750%
Jorge ValdanoJuly 1994January 199650%
Jupp HeynckesJune 1997May 199849%
Arthur Johnson1910192048%
Juan de Carcer1920192645%
Michael KeepingJanuary 1948October 195045%
Julen LopeteguiJune 2018October 201843%
Amancio AmaroMay 1984April 198540%
Jose Quirante1929193039%
Jacinto QuincocesApril 1947January 194829%

Who is the current Real Madrid manager?

Carlo Ancelotti is the current Real Madrid manager. The Italian was appointed at the club for the second time in 2021 when Zinedine Zidane left his role as head coach. Ancelotti previously spent two years in the Santiago Bernabeu dugout between 2013 and 2015. He won the Champions League in 2014, during his first spell, and repeated this success in 2022 and 2024, in his second spell.

After leaving Real Madrid in 2015, Ancelotti spent time in charge at Bayern Munich, Napoli and Everton before returning to the Spanish capital.

He has won the league title in each of Europe’s top five leagues, while he is the most successful manager in the history of the Champions League with four titles.

The 2024/25 season could be Ancelotti's last on the Los Blancos bench, however. Though he is under contract until 2026, a poor start to the campaign has convinced club bosses that a change at the end of the season may be necessary.

Read more about: La Liga Real Madrid

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