Which current UCL managers have won the Champions League as players?

Many great stars of the game make the move to the bench when their playing careers end, some aiming to match their on-field European heroics.

Elite players, those who stand out and lead their teams to victory in the most competitive and challenging competitions, are often supported by elite managers. And in the top club competition on the planet, UEFA’s Champions League, we get to see some of the world’s best, both on the field of play and in the technical area just off it.

Saudi riches aside, the world’s top talent continues to gravitate towards Europe, and the same holds true for coaches as well as the players. Forging a career at the summit of The Beautiful Game, proving yourself against the cream of the crop, and winning as much silverware and titles as you can. To varying degrees, each coach leaves their mark on how the teams play, imposing their ideas and striving to ensure that the players understand and execute them. Many of these great coaches, of course, were footballers themselves in the past, and some of them know what it’s like to reach the pinnacle of success with their boots on.

As the 2023/24 Champions League edition gets underway, there are several current coaches entering it who know what it’s like to lift Ol’ Big Ears, not only from the sidelines.

For many, Josep Guardiola is considered the best coach in the world. Titles are the quantifiable measure that backs the success of the beautiful and offensive style of football his teams tend to exhibit, filled with control and creativity. The playing philosophy that Pep has successfully instilled in his teams throughout his coaching career is a legacy of his time as a player.

Guardiola was a key player for one of the most memorable teams in history, Barcelona’s