Free Managers trivia questions with explained answers.
Great teams are built in the dugout, and this free quiz is all about the managers who shaped the game. Sir Alex Ferguson's 26 years and 13 league titles at Manchester United. Arsène Wenger's Invincibles. José Mourinho announcing himself as "the Special One" after winning the 2004 Champions League with Porto. The tacticians, motivators and dynasty-builders whose names became shorthand for an era.
It spans the philosophies as much as the trophies. Pep Guardiola's tiki-taka treble at Barcelona and his record-breaking Manchester City. Carlo Ancelotti collecting Champions League titles like no manager before him. Jürgen Klopp's heavy-metal football. And the older masters — Brian Clough taking unfashionable Nottingham Forest to back-to-back European Cups, Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan, Rinus Michels and Total Football.
The questions range from the famous — who managed England as its first foreign coach, who succeeded Ferguson at United — to the deep cuts about specific title wins, club tenures and tactical firsts. It's a category for fans who watch the touchline as closely as the pitch.
Each answer comes with the context behind it, so you finish knowing the story, not just the name. Play the free sample below, then the full Managers bank in the Ball IQ app.
Ball IQ has 246 Managers questions — 56 easy, 105 medium and 85 hard.
20 sample questions. Tap “Show answer” to reveal the answer and the story behind it.
Who was Manchester City's manager when they won their first Premier League title in 2012?
Answer: Roberto Mancini
City famously pipped United on goal difference on the final day of the season.
Carlo Ancelotti joined which club as manager in 2021 — winning the Champions League almost immediately?
Answer: Real Madrid
Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid in 2021 and in his first season back won the 2022 Champions League, beating Liverpool 1-0 in Paris via Vinicius Junior — Madrid's record-extending 14th European Cup.
Which manager led Atletico Madrid to their shock La Liga title in 2013-14 — their first in 18 years?
Answer: Simeone
Simeone sealed Atletico's first title since 1995-96 with a 1-1 draw at Barcelona on the final day, Diego Godin's header securing the point they needed at Camp Nou.
Sir Alex Ferguson managed Manchester United for how many years?
Answer: 27
Ferguson managed United from November 1986 to May 2013 — close to 27 years — winning 13 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues before retiring on a final-season title.
Who became Manchester City's manager in 2016 after leaving Bayern Munich?
Answer: Guardiola
Guardiola left Bayern Munich for Manchester City in 2016, succeeding Manuel Pellegrini — he won the treble there in 2023, including the club's first Champions League.
Which manager won the Champions League in his very first season in charge of Real Madrid in 2021-22?
Answer: Ancelotti
Ancelotti returned to Madrid in 2021 and immediately won the 2021-22 Champions League, beating Liverpool 1-0 in Paris through Vinicius Junior — his then-record fourth European Cup as a manager.
Béla Guttmann, the wandering coach who won back-to-back European Cups with Benfica in 1961 and 1962, reputedly left which 'curse' on the club after a pay dispute?
Answer: That Benfica would not win a European trophy for 100 years
Eusébio once knelt at his grave begging for it to be lifted before a final; decades of European final defeats followed.
Which manager guided Atletico Madrid to their first Champions League final in 2014?
Answer: Diego Simeone
Simeone's Atletico were seconds from winning before Ramos headed in a late equaliser — Real won in extra time.
Pep Guardiola's Man City won four consecutive Premier League titles — in which seasons?
Answer: 2021-24
City's four straight titles came in 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 — the first team in English top-flight history to win four in a row.
How many English managers have ever won the Premier League title?
Answer: 0
No English manager has won the Premier League since it began in 1992; Howard Wilkinson (Leeds, 1991-92) was the last Englishman to win the old First Division.
Which Serie A manager guided Napoli's 2022-23 historic title — their first in 33 years?
Answer: Spalletti
Spalletti's Napoli, inspired by Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia, clinched the 2022-23 Scudetto with a draw at Udinese — their first league title since the Maradona era in 1989-90.
Who managed Morocco to the 2022 World Cup semi-final?
Answer: Walid Regragui
Walid Regragui took over in August 2022 and led Morocco to the semi-finals in Qatar — the first African or Arab nation ever to reach the World Cup's final four.
Roberto De Zerbi took Brighton to Europe — which club did he join after leaving Brighton?
Answer: Marseille
After leaving Brighton in 2024, De Zerbi joined Marseille on a three-year deal in June 2024.
Arsene Wenger — how many FA Cups did he win at Arsenal?
Answer: 7
Wenger's seven FA Cups is a record for any manager, including the 2017 final win over Chelsea in his final triumph at Arsenal.
Which manager led Portugal to Euro 2016 glory despite not winning a single match in 90 minutes during the group stage?
Answer: Santos
Fernando Santos drew all three group games, qualifying as a best third-placed side, yet won the final 1-0 over hosts France after extra time in 2016.
Which manager took unfancied Villarreal to the Champions League semi-finals in 2005-06?
Answer: Manuel Pellegrini
The Chilean coach — who'd later manage Manchester City — took the Yellow Submarine to the semis.
Which Welshman became Fulham manager at 32 in 2003 — one of the youngest permanent Premier League managers of his era — before later managing Wales?
Answer: Chris Coleman
Coleman took charge of Fulham in April 2003, staying until 2007. He later managed Wales to the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
Who is the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history, appointed by Brighton in 2024 aged 31?
Answer: Fabian Hurzeler
A German coach poached after winning promotion to the Bundesliga.
Marcelo Lippi won the World Cup as Italy manager in 2006 — how old was he?
Answer: 58
The Juventus and Italy boss was born in 1948.
Who managed Derby County to their record-low 11-point Premier League season in 2007-08?
Answer: Paul Jewell
Took over from Billy Davies in November 2007 but couldn't reverse the slide that ended in record-low points.