Guardiola, Zidane: The 8 people who won the Champions League as a player & manager
Winning the Champions League would be the highlight of any player’s career – to go on and do it again as a manager is a stunning achievement.
Just eight managers have pulled off the feat, with Sonia Bompastor becoming the first woman to do so yesterday as Lyon defeated Barcelona 3-1 in a thrilling Champions League Final.
Who are the remaining seven? We run through every manager to win the Champions League after doing so as a player.
Sonia Bompastor
The 41-year-old Bompastor won the Women’s Champions League in 2011 and 2012 while playing for Lyon.
Ten years later, the French midfielder returned to earn another Champions League title, this time as manager of her former club. Lyon stunned Barcelona with a 3-1 victory, regaining their status as the best team in Europe.
Miguel Muñoz
Muñoz played as a midfielder for Real Madrid from 1948 to 1958, triumphing in the Champions League, then known as the European Cup, an impressive three times.
The Spaniard then continued his success with the club as manager, leading Real Madrid to European glory in 1960 and 1966. Muñoz was the first to win the Champions League both as a player and manager.
Miguel Muñoz, the coach who was in charge for the most Madrid Derbies in history: 38 games. @marca pic.twitter.com/HRBDhe6EIq
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) December 12, 2021
Giovanni Trapattoni
Trapattoni spent the majority of his career with AC Milan, winning the European Cup in 1963 and 1969.
He then became one of the most celebrated managers in history, and the most successful club coach in Italian football. Trapattoni won the European Cup with AC Milan in 1963 and 1969, before doing so again with Juventus in 1985.
Johan Cruyff
Cruyff is considered one of the greatest players to grace the pitch, evidenced by the three times he received the Ballon d’Or.
During his illustrious career, the Dutch forward won the European Cup with Ajax in 1971, 1972 and 1973.
After retiring from football at the age of 30, Cruyff became a manager and helped Barcelona to a European Cup title in 1992.
Carlo Ancelotti
Ancelotti won the European Cup twice as a player, triumphing with AC Milan in 1989 and 1990.
After the competition became the Champions League, Ancelotti won it three times as a manager. The Italian was victorious twice with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007, before winning the tournament again with Real Madrid in 2014.
He could soon add another Champions League title to his name – after re-taking the reins of Real Madrid in 2021, his side are set to play Liverpool in the Final this weekend.
Frank Rijkaard
Rijkaard started and ended his playing career with Ajax, but won the European Cup in 1989 and 1990 alongside Ancelotti during a short stint with AC Milan. After returning to Ajax in 1993, Rijkaard claimed his third European title in 1995.
The Dutch defender then became a manager and won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006.
Pep Guardiola
Guardiola played under Cruyff as Barcelona won the European Cup in 1992. He became manager of the club himself in 2008, winning the Champions League in 2009 and 2011.
The Spanish icon is yet to win the tournament again, but went close with Manchester City last year. His side reached the Final but were defeated 1-0 by Chelsea.
Zinédine Zidane
Zidane scored in the Champions League Final in 2002 to earn his first European title with Real Madrid. He then coached his former side to three successive victories from 2016 to 2018.