There are many great coaches and managers in football history, but one or two stand out above all others. Over the years, many have been bold enough to overlook peers’ opinions to lead their teams to the top. Here’s a list of some of the best FIFA World Cup coaches.
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer is one of the most influential figures in football history. He was a prominent player, coach, and manager. In addition, he played for the German national team and the Bayern Munich club. He won the FIFA World Cup with Germany in 1974.
He was also included in FIFA Century Club and FIFA 100 list. Franz Beckenbauer was named European Footballer of the Year thrice in 1972, 1976, and 1977. In 1999, he was awarded the German Sports Personality of the Century award by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Carlos Bilardo
Carlos Bilardo is one of the best FIFA World Cup coaches. He was born in Buenos Aires on March 19, 1942. Bilardo played for Estudiantes de la Plata, Racing Club, and River Plate. He also coached Estudiantes de la Plata and Argentina’s national football team.
Bilardo started his coaching career at Estudiantes de la Plata in 1974. In 1978, he coached Argentina national football team to win the 1978 FIFA World Cup. The team defeated Netherlands 3-1 in the final game.
In 1982, he again coached Argentina’s national football team to win the 1982 FIFA World Cup after defeating West Germany 3-2 in the final match.
Helmut Schon
Helmut Schon was a German football player and manager. He is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time and was named European Footballer of the Year twice.
Schon played most of his career with Bayern Munich, winning several national championships and cups, including five straight European Cups from 1974 to 1979. At the international level, he was part of the West German team that won the 1966 World Cup. He also represented Germany at two other World Cups and two European Championships.
After retiring from professional football in 1977, he became a coach and managed several clubs in Germany, Spain, and France. In 1993, he became the head coach of Argentina.
Vittorio Pozzo
Vittorio Pozzo coached the Italian National Team, which won two World Cups in 1934 and 1938. He also coached Italy during the 1950 World Cup, where they finished in fourth place.
His teams were known for their defensive tactics. Moreover, he also had a reputation for adapting to any situation on the field. He was known as a master tactician who could adjust his strategy to any team or player he faced.
He also developed many of the modern formations we still use today, including 4-3-3, which remains popular among many teams.
