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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery finds himself in elite company when it comes to collecting European silverware.

He is one of only 13 managers in football history to have secured three or more official UEFA club titles. With Aston Villa’s Europa League triumph in 2026, Emery lifted the trophy for a fifth time, putting him ahead of several iconic figures of the game in terms of total continental honours.

Here’s a look at the 13 managers who have captured at least three European titles.

Note: The UEFA Super Cup and the old Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (not affiliated with UEFA) have been excluded. In cases where managers have equal totals, the number of Champions League titles has been used as the deciding factor for ranking.

1 x Cup Winners’ Cup, 1 x UEFA Cup, 1 x European Cup

One of only two managers ever to complete UEFA’s original ‘big three’ continental tournaments, the legendary German coach—ranked 30th in France Football’s 2019 list of the greatest managers—collected numerous honours through the 1970s and 1980s.

In addition to winning eight Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach, he guided Bayern to their first European Cup in 1974, the beginning of their historic three-year dominance, and led Gladbach to UEFA Cup glory five years later.

Lattek also lifted the Cup Winners’ Cup with Barcelona in 1982, steering the team to a 2-1 win over Standard Liege in the final.

2 x Cup Winners’ Cup, 1 x European Cup

After a glittering playing career with Ajax and Barcelona, he replicated that success as a manager.

Before establishing the tactical style that defines modern Barcelona, he guided Ajax to the 1987 Cup Winners’ Cup, with a young Marco van Basten netting the winner against Lokomotiv Leipzig. Two years later, he captured the same trophy with Barcelona, then went on to claim four consecutive La Liga titles and capped that golden era with the European Cup in 1992.

His influence on football was immeasurable, and his success was backed by silverware. The comparisons to Guardiola are easy to see.

2 x UEFA Cup/Europa League, 1 x Champions League

Rafa Benitez arrived at Liverpool in 2004 after sealing the UEFA Cup with Valencia.

He replicated his rival Jose Mourinho’s achievement by winning the Champions League the following season, though with a different club. His 2013 Europa League win with Chelsea often goes underappreciated—a classic example of the Roman Abramovich era: managerial chaos, but consistent trophies nonetheless.

2 x European Cup, 1 x Cup Winners’ Cup

As Real Madrid’s manager during the era of Alfredo Di Stefano, Francisco Gento, and Raymond Kopa, Villalonga oversaw the club’s first two European Cup wins in 1956 and 1957 before departing prior to their third, fourth, and fifth triumphs.

Later, he joined Atletico Madrid, defeating his former club in consecutive Copa del Rey finals and capturing the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1962. He also coached Spain to victory at the 1964 European Championship.

3 x Champions League

Only one manager in history has claimed more European Cups than Pep Guardiola, yet his record speaks for itself.

After winning two Champions League titles with his iconic Barcelona side, he added a third during Manchester City’s 2022–23 treble-winning campaign. Unlike most others on this list, Guardiola has spent his entire managerial career competing exclusively in UEFA’s top tournament, never dropping down to the Europa League.

3 x Champions League

It’s remarkable that Zinedine Zidane, with just five full seasons as a head coach, already boasts three Champions League titles.

He also clinched a La Liga crown in his second season at Real Madrid, but his first spell—three titles in three attempts—remains the ultimate statement of dominance. While debate continues about his tactical prowess, his leadership and composure made him the perfect manager for a squad full of world-class talent. His potential future with France remains a tantalising prospect.

2 x Cup Winners’ Cup, 2 x European Cup

In the 1960s, Milan legend Nereo Rocco masterminded a tactical revolution, steering the club to four major European trophies along with three Coppa Italias, two Scudetti, and an Intercontinental Cup.

Though Arrigo Sacchi, Carlo Ancelotti, and Fabio Capello all hold legendary status at Milan, Rocco’s influence arguably eclipses them all.

2 x Cup Winners’ Cup, 2 x Champions League

In a fairer world, Sir Alex Ferguson might have earned extra credit for guiding Aberdeen to victory over Real Madrid in a major European final.

He later claimed the Cup Winners’ Cup again with Manchester United early in his tenure before dominating English football for two decades. United’s two Champions League wins could easily have been doubled if not for Guardiola’s Barcelona juggernaut in 2009 and 2011.

3 x European Cup, 1 x UEFA Cup

“The secret is that our Liverpool team never know when to stop running and working,” said Bob Paisley upon his retirement in 1983.

“At Anfield, we’ve always believed in players supporting each other and not giving the ball away. You must have patience; that’s how we can compete with the continentals.”

Three European Cups, one FA Cup, six league titles, and three League Cups mark the most successful period in Liverpool’s history.

5 x Europa League

Unai Emery belongs to an elite group of four managers with five European trophies. His record is extraordinary—especially considering it includes Villarreal’s only major title and Aston Villa’s first in over three decades.

While critics note he has yet to prove himself consistently in the Champions League, his record in UEFA’s secondary competitions is unmatched. His stints at PSG and Arsenal didn’t yield the expected results, but his resurgence at Villa may yet grant him another shot at the top tier.

3 x UEFA Cup, 1 x European Cup, 1 x Cup Winners’ Cup

Giovanni Trapattoni’s managerial career was as decorated as his playing days with AC Milan. Though he missed out on the UEFA Cup as a player, he more than compensated later, winning 10 league titles across four European nations.

His five European trophies—two UEFA Cups, a Cup Winners’ Cup and a European Cup with Juventus, and another UEFA Cup with Inter—spanned from 1976–77 to 1992–93. Few can match Trapattoni’s sustained excellence.

2 x Champions League, 2 x UEFA Cup/Europa League, 1 x Conference League

Often dubbed the modern-day Trapattoni, Jose Mourinho completed UEFA’s contemporary ‘big three’ when he led Roma to the inaugural Conference League title in 2022, commemorating it with a tattoo of all three trophies.

Interestingly, that was his only addition to the trophy cabinet since 2017. Whether his recent struggles stem from misfortune or misjudged career moves remains to be seen, but a potential return to Real Madrid could offer him a path back to the elite stage.

It’s worth noting that Mourinho was an assistant to Bobby Robson when Barcelona beat PSG in the 1997 Cup Winners’ Cup final.

5 x Champions League

Carlo Ancelotti’s five Champions League triumphs equal the combined total of Guardiola and Ferguson—an astonishing record that might never be surpassed.

He’s also the only manager to have won league titles in Italy, England, Germany, Spain, and France. While others may have influenced football tactics more profoundly, Ancelotti’s in-game adaptability and ability to manage star-studded squads are second to none.

He even lifted the Intertoto Cup with Juventus in 1999, though that pales in comparison to his Champions League feats.