Every Champions League finalists losing manager since the inception in 1992

Buckle up for the wildest ride in football: managers who reached the Champions League final… and CRASHED!

From penalty meltdowns to last-minute gut-punches, these gaffers felt the ultimate sting. Let’s unpack the trendiest UCL flops!

Fun Stat: 32 finals, 26 different losing managers. Only 6 repeated the heartbreak multiple times. The UCL final is a ruthless stage!

SEE ALSO: The greatest snooker rivalries of all time

1993: Fabio Capello (AC Milan) – Lost to Marseille (1–0)

1994: Johan Cruyff (Barcelona) – Lost to AC Milan (4–0)

1995: Fabio Capello (AC Milan) – Lost to Ajax (1–0)

1996: Louis van Gaal (Ajax) – Lost to Juventus (1–1, 4–2 on penalties)

1997: Marcello Lippi (Juventus) – Lost to Borussia Dortmund (3–1)

1998: Marcello Lippi (Juventus) – Lost to Real Madrid (1–0)

1999: Ottmar Hitzfeld (Bayern Munich) – Lost to Manchester United (2–1)

2000: Héctor Cúper (Valencia) – Lost to Real Madrid (3–0)

2001: Héctor Cúper (Valencia) – Lost to Bayern Munich (1–1, 5–4 on penalties)

2002: Klaus Toppmöller (Bayer Leverkusen) – Lost to Real Madrid (2–1)

SEE ALSO: From 1930 until now: The greatest footballer of every decade

2003: Marcello Lippi (Juventus) – Lost to AC Milan (0–0, 3–2 on penalties)

2004: Didier Deschamps (Monaco) – Lost to Porto (3–0)

2005: Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan) – Lost to Liverpool (3–3, 3–2 on penalties)

2006: Arsène Wenger (Arsenal) – Lost to Barcelona (2–1)

2007: Rafael Benítez (Liverpool) – Lost to AC Milan (2–1)

2008: Avram Grant (Chelsea) – Lost to Manchester United (1–1, 6–5 on penalties)

2009: Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) – Lost to Barcelona (2–0)

2010: Louis van Gaal (Bayern Munich) – Lost to Inter Milan (2–0)

2011: Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) – Lost to Barcelona (3–1)

2012: Jupp Heynckes (Bayern Munich) – Lost to Chelsea (1–1, 4–3 on penalties)

2013: Jürgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund) – Lost to Bayern Munich (2–1)

2014: Diego Simeone (Atlético Madrid) – Lost to Real Madrid (4–1 after extra time)

2015: Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus) – Lost to Barcelona (3–1)

SEE ALSO: 10 Inspiring Rags-to-Riches Stories of Sports Superstars Who Defied the Odds

2016: Diego Simeone (Atlético Madrid) – Lost to Real Madrid (1–1, 5–3 on penalties)

2017: Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus) – Lost to Real Madrid (4–1)

2018: Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool) – Lost to Real Madrid (3–1)

2019: Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham Hotspur) – Lost to Liverpool (2–0)

2020: Thomas Tuchel (Paris Saint-Germain) – Lost to Bayern Munich (1–0)

2021: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) – Lost to Chelsea (1–0)

2022: Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool) – Lost to Real Madrid (1–0)

2023: Simone Inzaghi (Inter Milan) – Lost to Manchester City (1–0)

2024: Edin Terzić (Borussia Dortmund) – Lost to Real Madrid (2–0)

 Let’s Talk!

What’s worse: losing ONE final forever or coming back for round after round of pain? Drop your hot takes! 

Which loss still makes you scream at the TV?