List of football managers with the most games

This is a list of football managers that have managed the most games, including those with 1,000 or more games. 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 games between 1974 and 2013, holds the world record for the most games 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 third on the list with 1,701 games, 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 games - in 28 years at Crewe Alexandra.

Other managers on the list include former England managers Bobby Robson and Graham Taylor, former Manchester United manager Matt Busby, former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, and former Derby County and Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough.

Ignacio Trelles, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Roy Hodgson, Dick Advocaat and Giovanni Trapattoni are the only managers of 1,000 or more club games and 100 or more national team games.

List

 * As of 4 June 2024.

In bold managers still active

National team managers with 100 or more games
In bold managers still active