Winning the UEFA Champions League is every manager’s ultimate goal. However, thanks to breakneck competition, it is not a feat one can achieve regularly.
World-class managers understand that; they are fueled by it. They take it as a challenge to return to the competition year after year and go as deep as possible.
Most teams consider reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals a success. At this stage, there are no favorites and underdogs, as all teams get a fair shot at going the distance.
Of course, reaching the semi-finals year after year requires immense technical know-how and adaptability. This is why only five managers in UEFA Champions League history have reached the semi-finals five times or more. Continue reading to meet the masterminds and take a brief look at their legendary Champions League journies.
#5 Louis van Gaal — 5 Times
Man United Only Won The FA Cup Under Van Gaal
Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is one of the most consistent managers in the history of the UEFA Champions League. The Dutch mastermind has reached the Champions League semi-finals an impressive five times, going the distance once.
Van Gaal reached the semi-finals for the first time with Ajax in the 1994-95 season. The Dutch outfit beat Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich over two legs to set up a mouth-watering finale with AC Milan. The Italian side put up a valiant fight but ultimately succumbed to a 1-0 defeat. Van Gaal reached two more semi-finals with Ajax, one with Barcelona, and another with Bayern Munich. He took Ajax and Bayern Munich to the final in 1995-96 and 2009-10, respectively, but could not take the final step.
#4 Sir Alex Ferguson — 7 Times
Sir Alex Ferguson Won 2 UEFA Champions League Trophies With Manchester United
One of the best managers of the 21st century, Sir Alex Ferguson reached seven UEFA Champions League semi-finals during his time in charge of Manchester United. The Scottish manager reached the final four times and…
Source link : https://sportslens.com/news/uefa-champions-league-most-semi-finals/
Author : Sushan Chakraborty
Publish date : 2024-05-08 07:08:48
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