FA Cup Winning Managers History

The FA Cup may no longer the most sought after trophy in English football, but it still remains the oldest and most prestigious football cup on the planet. A number of top clubs may now hold the Premier League and Champions League in higher regard but for many other teams the competition is of great importance.

Throughout its 140 year history the competition has produced a plethora of memorable moments, stunning goals and shock upsets. Winning the competition is still a must for all players plying their trade in English football, and one trophy that all managers will want on their CV.

FA Cup Records

Scotland's George Ramsay holds the record for the most amount of FA Cup wins with six, claiming all of them while in charge of Aston Villa. Sir Alex Ferguson has a total of five with Manchester United, a number he shares with Thomas Mitchell, who won the competition five times with Blackburn Rovers in the 19th Century.

John Nicholson is the highest ranked Englishman with a total of four wins, achieved with Sheffield Utd in the last 19th and early 20th century. Meanwhile Arsene Wenger, who also has four wins, is the only manager outside of the UK to have won the FA Cup more than once.

Only two managers have won the FA Cup with more than one club, with Herbert Chapman victorious with Huddersfield Town and Arsenal, while Billy Walker recorded wins win Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest.

Only one English manager has won the FA Cup since 1995, with Harry Redknapp guiding Portsmouth to a surprise win in 2008. Three of the last six winners have all been Italian, including Roberto Di Matteo who in 2012 guided Chelsea to their fourth FA Cup in six years.

Since the turn of the century the debate about the importance of the FA Cup has been a key talking point as many teams have the league their priority. Teams fighting for the title, promotion or relegation have been known to field weakened teams in the cup which has taken some of the sparkle out of the competition. Man Utd and Sir Alex Ferguson were heavily criticised for not entering during the 1999/2000 season, something which has not happened again since.

FA Cup Winning Managers Since 2000
2000: Gianluca Vialli (Chelsea)
2001: Gerard Houllier (Liverpool)
2002: Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)
2003: Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)
2004: Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)
2005: Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)
2006: Rafael Benítez (Liverpool)
2007: Jose Mourinho (Chelsea)
2008: Harry Redknapp (Portsmouth)
2009: Guus Hiddink (Chelsea)
2010: Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea)
2011: Roberto Mancini (Manchester City)
2012: Roberto Di Matteo (Chelsea)
2013: Roberto Martinez (Wigan)
2014: Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)
2015: Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)
2016: Louis van Gaal (Man Utd)
2017: Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)