Numbers sometimes tell a different story than trophies. At Real Madrid, the most decorated coaches aren’t necessarily the ones with the best win rates.
Under Florentino Pérez, two names stand out: Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti. These two managers are the most decorated in the club’s history. Yet, when we look at a specific indicator — the win percentage — neither of them tops the list.
Zidane, despite his multiple European titles, has a success rate of 65.8%. That’s a modest figure considering his exceptional record. Ancelotti does better with 71%, a ratio more in line with his consistent results.
But these figures are still lower than those of two other coaches. First, there’s José Mourinho, who boasts a win rate of 72% over his three seasons in Madrid. The Portuguese even holds a historic record: 100 points in La Liga during the 2011-2012 season, with 121 goals scored.
Then there’s an even more surprising case. Manuel Pellegrini. The Chilean has the highest win percentage on the Madrid bench: 75%. This is a striking statistic, especially when we remember that his tenure in 2009 yielded no trophies, despite the simultaneous arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, and Benzema. A spectacular season in terms of play… but empty in the trophy cabinet.
Eliminated by Lyon in the Champions League, humiliated by Alcorcón, a fourth division team, in the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid still finished second in La Liga with 96 points, just three behind Barça. That total was a historic record for the club at the time. However, it wasn’t enough for Florentino Pérez, who decided to turn the page and hand the team over to José Mourinho.
Today, history seems to be repeating itself. The Madrid bench is once again at the center of discussions. Álvaro Arbeloa has a lot at stake this season’s end: a title in La Liga or the Champions League could solidify his position. But internally, the management is already exploring other options. Among the names being mentioned are Jürgen Klopp… and once again, José Mourinho.
