Outstanding Manager-Assistant Partnerships
Every exceptional manager has a dependable right-hand person by their side: the assistant manager.
Some pairs of managers and assistants have experienced prolonged success, while others have quickly filled their trophy cabinets in a shorter timeframe.
Regardless, all of the following partnerships have left a significant impact on the realm of coaching, whether in club competitions, international tournaments, or both…
Carlo Ancelotti & Zinedine Zidane
Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, two of the most successful managers in Champions League history, were coaching colleagues at Real Madrid during the 2013/14 season.
That season, they clinched two titles: the Champions League and Copa del Rey, after which Zidane took over management of Madrid’s reserve team.
Brian Clough & Peter Taylor
Starting at Fourth Division Hartlepool United in 1965, Brian Clough and Peter Taylor developed one of the most enduring manager-assistant relationships in history.
By the early 80s, the legendary Clough along with his close friend had secured the First Division title with both Derby County and Nottingham Forest, achieving back-to-back European Cups with the latter.
Vicente del Bosque & Toni Grande
Vicente del Bosque, who led Spain to its first World Cup victory in 2010, did so with assistant Toni Grande by his side.
The duo, former teammates at Real Madrid, contributed to two LaLiga titles and two Champions League wins with Los Blancos at the start of the 21st century.
Alex Ferguson & Brian Kidd
One of Alex Ferguson’s pivotal partnerships in the Premier League era was with Brian Kidd, a European Cup winner as a player with Manchester United.
The duo collaborated during four title-winning seasons, although Kidd departed shortly before United achieved the treble in 1998/99 following Ferguson’s comments about him in his memoirs.
Alex Ferguson & Steve McClaren
Replacing Brian Kidd at Old Trafford, Steve McClaren started strongly by helping Alex Ferguson lead Manchester United to a treble.
In the subsequent two seasons, they added Premier League titles to their collection, with McClaren quickly establishing himself as an innovative and tactically astute coach.
Pep Guardiola & Juanma Lillo
Once the youngest coach in LaLiga, managing Salamanca in his twenties, Juanma Lillo joined Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in 2020.
After two successful title-winning seasons, Lillo departed to lead Qatari side Al Sadd but reunited with Guardiola in 2023, ahead of a season that brought further Premier League success, during which Lillo temporarily took over in Guardiola’s absence due to back surgery.
Pep Guardiola & Tito Vilanova
Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova began their partnership with Barcelona B before stepping up to the first team in 2008.
Over an incredible four-year period, they guided Barca to phenomenal success, playing some of the most beautiful football in history and capturing every major trophy available, after which Guardiola stepped back, with Vilanova taking his place.
Jurgen Klopp & Zeljko Buvac
Jurgen Klopp referred to assistant Zeljko Buvac as the ‘brain’ behind their coaching collaboration, which began in Mainz back in 2001.
This partnership led to major success at Borussia Dortmund, including a German double in 2010/11, before they worked together for the first two and a half years of Klopp’s tenure at Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp & Pep Lijnders
After parting ways with Zeljko Buvac at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp joined forces with Pep Lijnders, who briefly managed the Dutch second division club NEC.
They achieved everything with Liverpool, including the 2018/19 Champions League and the 2019/20 Premier League title, which ended the Reds’ 30-year wait for a championship – remaining close allies until Klopp’s resignation in 2024.
Jose Mourinho & Steve Clarke
When Jose Mourinho arrived at Chelsea in 2004, his assistant was already part of the club’s setup: Steve Clarke, who was a Chelsea legend during his playing days and had been coaching at the youth level.
Over the course of three seasons, Mourinho and Clarke celebrated two Premier League titles – the first being Chelsea’s since 1955 – along with two League Cups and an FA Cup.
Jose Mourinho & Rui Faria
Rui Faria, a trusted companion of Jose Mourinho, has collected trophies alongside his Portuguese compatriot at several clubs across different nations.
Since 2003, the pair has won significant trophies at Porto, Chelsea, Inter – achieving a treble in 2010 – Real Madrid, and Manchester United.
Bob Paisley & Joe Fagan
Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan created an iconic coaching duo at Liverpool, with the former succeeding his mentor Bill Shankly as manager.
With Fagan’s essential contributions as his assistant, Paisley guided the Reds to First Division, League Cup, and European Cup glory—before eventually handing over the managerial reins to Fagan.
Helmut Schon & Jupp Derwall
Both highly capable managers in their individual rights, Helmut Schon and Jupp Derwall served as the top figures for West Germany, leading the nation to Euro 1972 and the 1974 World Cup victory.
This duo worked together for close to a decade, even guiding their team to the Euro 1976 final.
Bill Shankly & Bob Paisley
The quintessential duo in the Anfield dugout, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley shared the managerial role during a transformative period for Liverpool; Shankly helped elevate the team from the Second Division to First Division champions and beyond.
Paisley originally came on as the Reds’ physio post his playing career in 1954, gradually moving up to reserve coach before becoming Shankly’s foremost assistant – eventually taking on the managerial position himself in 1974.
Diego Simeone & German Burgos
Teammates during their time at Atlético Madrid and Argentina, Diego Simeone and German Burgos collaborated at Atleti for nearly a decade.
During their time together, they secured two LaLiga titles, a Copa del Rey victory, and two Europa League trophies.
Arsene Wenger & Pat Rice
Pat Rice, an integral part of Arsenal’s double-winning squad in 1970/71, became assistant manager under Arsene Wenger in 1996 after serving as a youth coach at the club.
The 16-year collaboration between Rice and Wenger saw the Gunners claim three Premier League titles – including an unbeaten season in 2003/04 – along with four FA Cups.
