Carlo Ancelotti has now won more games than any other manager in the 68-year history of the European Cup and Champions League, surpassing the record set by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Real Madrid emerged comfortable victors over Braga in the Champions League group stage on Wednesday night – Brahim Diaz, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo scored the goals.
It was the Italian’s 116th win in Europe’s elite competition – including qualifying games.
Madrid are just one of eight clubs Ancelotti has managed at this level. He started by guiding Parma into the Champions League in 1997, before spells with Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Napoli, as well as his two spells in Spain’s capital.
Of Ancelotti’s 116 wins, 111 have come in the main competition – in other words from the group or beyond. Five have been in qualifying games – two with Parma, three with Milan.
The Italian already holds the record for most European Cup or Champions League trophies. He landed his fourth title in 2022, steering Madrid to continental glory. Ancelotti had previously delivered the club’s historic Decima in 2014 in his first spell, as well as Milan triumphs in 2003 and 2007.
The next best in terms of trophies are Bob Paisley, Zinedine Zidane and Pep Guardiola, all on three.
Ferguson’s record of 115 wins at this level, which Ancelotti equalled on matchday three of this season’s group stage when Madrid defeated Braga in the reverse fixture, is spread out over a longer period dating back to his days in charge of Aberdeen in the old European Cup.
The legendary manager led Aberdeen to three Scottish titles during the 1980s, equating to three European Cup campaigns. After a couple of early exits, Fergie clocked up five wins across those seasons, taking his team as far as the quarter-finals during 1985/86.
Ferguson wasn’t back in the European Cup, or Champions League as it became known after 1992, until after his first Premier League triumph with Manchester United in 1993. He went on to win 102 games in the competition proper, with an additional eight victories in qualifying games. With his five Aberdeen wins, it takes his total to the previously stated 115.
By the time he retired in 2013 after 35 years as a manager with Aberdeen and Manchester United, Ferguson had won two Champions League titles with the latter – in 1999 and 2008. Overall, 16 men have won the competition twice, including Brian Clough, Vicente del Bosque and Jose Mourinho.
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