This is a list of football managers that have managed the most matches, including those with 1,000 or more matches. The list includes managers' total matches, comprising club domestic league and cup, continental and global tallies, plus all FIFA-certified international matches (both competitive and friendly).
Alex Ferguson, who took charge of a total of 2,155 competitive matches between 1974 and 2013, holds the world record for the most matches as a manager, starting with East Stirlingshire in Scotland and finishing with an enormously successful 27-year spell as manager of Manchester United, also including an interim spell as manager of the Scotland national football team during the mid-1980s. His long-time rival at Arsenal, Arsène Wenger, is sixth on the list with 1,785 matches, most of which were during his 22-year spell with the Gunners. Dario Gradi, of dual English and Italian heritage, took charge of 1,557 Football League matches in a 33-year career which took in spells with Wimbledon, Crystal Palace and three spells – totalling 1,359 matches – in 28 years at Crewe Alexandra.
Ignacio Trelles, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Roy Hodgson, Dick Advocaat, Mário Zagallo, Miroslav Blažević and Giovanni Trapattoni are managers of both 1,000 or more club matches and 100 or more national team matches.
List As of matches played 6 September 2026 Managers that are still active are highlighted in bold.