7 Managers With The Most World Cup Wins in Football History

Winning the FIFA World Cup is the biggest achievement for any football manager. It takes years of planning, squad building, and the ability to perform under pressure in a short tournament format. Here we look at the coaches with the highest number of World Cup wins.
While many have won the World Cup once, only one has managed to lift it more than once, and it is a legendary name standing alone at the top. It is one thing to lift the trophy and another to win nearly every match along the way.
In this article, we rank seven World Cup-winning managers based on their points per match, starting from the lowest to the highest.
7. Joachim Löw – 70% Win Rate – 1.95 PPM – Germany (2014)
Löw led Germany to one of the most memorable World Cup wins in recent memory in 2014. But his time with the country was not just about 2014, as he helped Germany maintain a good level, as reflected in his 70% win rate and 1.95 PPM.
Löw’s Germany reached the semi-finals in 2010 and returned four years later to conquer the world in Brazil. His team played attractive, high-pressing football and was both ruthless and efficient. Their 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the semi-final remains the most shocking result in World Cup history.
Though his PPM is slightly lower due to long-term involvement in group-stage matches and extended runs, Löw’s tactical evolution made Germany one of the most feared sides of the 2010s. The 2014 win sealed his legacy.
6. Helmut Schön – 64% Win Rate – 2.10 PPM – West Germany (1974)
Schön is the longest-serving manager in World Cup history, having led West Germany across four tournaments from 1966 to 1978. His 64% win rate might be the lowest on this list, but his achievements speak volumes.
Schön guided West Germany to the final in 1966, the semi-finals in 1970, and then won the tournament in 1974, defeating Johan Cruyff’s Netherlands in one of the most tactical finals ever played. The 1974 team was disciplined, mentally tough, and capitalised on moments, unlike the flashier “Total Football” of the Dutch.
He accumulated an impressive 2.10 points per match (PPM) across his World Cup tenure, proving his consistency and long-term success at the top level. Schön’s Germany laid the groundwork for future generations of dominance.
5. Mário Zagallo – 70% Win Rate – 2.23 PPM – Brazil (1970)
Zagallo is a giant of Brazilian football. He won World Cups as a player (1958, 1962) and later as a manager in 1970, with a 70% win rate and an impressive 2.23 PPM.
Zagallo’s 1970 Brazil side is still considered the greatest World Cup team of all time, starring Pelé, Jairzinho, Tostão, and Carlos Alberto. They dazzled with free-flowing, attacking football, winning all their matches and crushing Italy 4-1 in the final.
He was a tactical innovator who let his players shine, and the numbers match the eye test, as they were almost untouchable.
4. Carlos Bilardo – 71% Win Rate – 2.29 PPM – Argentina (1986)
Bilardo masterminded Argentina’s 1986 World Cup win, building a tactical system that allowed Diego Maradona to run the show. His 71% win rate and 2.29 PPM shows just how dominant Argentina were under his guidance.
Bilardo favoured a pragmatic 3-5-2 formation, ensuring defensive solidity while giving Maradona the freedom to roam. It worked perfectly as Argentina beat England, Belgium, and West Germany to lift their second World Cup.
He returned in 1990 and reached the final again, cementing his place as one of Argentina’s greatest managers. While Maradona stole the spotlight, it was Bilardo’s system that provided the stage.
3. Franz Beckenbauer – 78% Win Rate – 2.29 PPM – West Germany (1990)
Beckenbauer is one of just three people to win the World Cup as both player and manager. He captained West Germany in 1974 and later coached them to victory in 1990, with an impressive 78% win rate and 2.29 PPM.
Beckenbauer’s 1990 side was built on discipline, strong leadership, and technical control. They avenged their 1986 final loss by beating Argentina in a tightly contested 1-0 win. Along the way, Germany played methodical football that got results.
Beckenbauer managed just two World Cups (1986 and 1990) but reached the final both times. That level of consistency, paired with his high win rate, makes him one of the most effective coaches in World Cup history.
2. Didier Deschamps – 77% Win Rate – 2.29 PPM – France (2018)
Didier Deschamps joins Beckenbauer and Zagallo in the rare club of World Cup winners as both player and manager. His 77% win rate and 2.29 PPM put him among the best-performing coaches the World Cup has ever seen.
Deschamps led France to the title in 2018, blending youth, pace, and discipline. With stars like Kylian Mbappe, Griezmann, and Pogba, France beat heavyweights like Argentina, Uruguay, and Croatia to clinch their second world title.
What made Deschamps stand out was his ability to balance flair and structure. His France side were not always pretty, but they were always effective, and his numbers reflect that winning formula.
1. Vittorio Pozzo – 88% Win Rate – 2.80 PPM – Italy (1934, 1938)
Sitting alone at the top is Pozzo, the only manager to win two World Cups and the coach with the highest winning percentage and points per match in the tournament’s history.
Pozzo’s Italy lifted the trophy in 1934 on home soil and again in 1938 in France. His teams were physical, smart, and well-prepared, winning eight of their nine matches across the two tournaments. The only non-win was a draw in a match that was replayed and won, so it was not even a defeat.
More than 85 years later, no manager has come close to matching both his win rate and title count.