Vittorio Pozzo holds the record for the most FIFA World Cup titles won by a manager. The legendary Italian coach guided Italy to consecutive championships in 1934 and 1938, making him the only manager in men’s World Cup history to win the tournament twice.
Pozzo’s record has stood for nearly nine decades and remains one of the most impressive coaching accomplishments in international soccer.
How Many World Cups Did Vittorio Pozzo Win?
Vittorio Pozzo won two FIFA World Cup titles as Italy’s manager:
- 1934 FIFA World Cup
- 1938 FIFA World Cup
Italy hosted the 1934 tournament and defeated Czechoslovakia 2-1 after extra time in the final in Rome.
Four years later, Pozzo led the defending champions to another title at the 1938 World Cup in France. Italy defeated Hungary 4-2 in the final to become the first country to win consecutive World Cups.
Pozzo remains the only coach to lead a national team to two World Cup championships. (FIFA)
Who Is Vittorio Pozzo?
Vittorio Pozzo was an Italian soccer manager best known for overseeing one of the most successful periods in the history of the Italian national team.
Pozzo was known for his demanding preparation, tactical organization and strong leadership. In addition to winning the World Cup in 1934 and 1938, he also led Italy to the gold medal at the 1936 Olympic soccer tournament.
His consecutive World Cup victories established a managerial record that has never been matched.
Has Any Other Manager Won Two World Cups?
No other manager has won the men’s FIFA World Cup twice.
Several coaches have come close to matching Pozzo’s record. Didier Deschamps led France to the 2018 championship and returned to the final in 2022, but France lost to Argentina on penalties.
Franz Beckenbauer reached two World Cup finals as West Germany’s manager, losing in 1986 before winning the tournament in 1990.
Brazil’s Mário Zagallo also enjoyed extraordinary World Cup success. He won the trophy twice as a player, once as a manager in 1970 and once as an assistant coach in 1994. However, only one of those championships came while he served as the team’s head manager.
Managers Who Have Won the FIFA World Cup
Every manager other than Vittorio Pozzo has won the men’s World Cup no more than once. Notable World Cup-winning managers include:
- Alberto Suppici — Uruguay, 1930
- Vittorio Pozzo — Italy, 1934 and 1938
- Juan López Fontana — Uruguay, 1950
- Sepp Herberger — West Germany, 1954
- Vicente Feola — Brazil, 1958
- Aymoré Moreira — Brazil, 1962
- Alf Ramsey — England, 1966
- Mário Zagallo — Brazil, 1970
- Helmut Schön — West Germany, 1974
- César Luis Menotti — Argentina, 1978
- Enzo Bearzot — Italy, 1982
- Carlos Bilardo — Argentina, 1986
- Franz Beckenbauer — West Germany, 1990
- Carlos Alberto Parreira — Brazil, 1994
- Aimé Jacquet — France, 1998
- Luiz Felipe Scolari — Brazil, 2002
- Marcello Lippi — Italy, 2006
- Vicente del Bosque — Spain, 2010
- Joachim Löw — Germany, 2014
- Didier Deschamps — France, 2018
- Lionel Scaloni — Argentina, 2022
Could Lionel Scaloni Match Vittorio Pozzo’s Record?
Lionel Scaloni has an opportunity to join Pozzo as a two-time World Cup-winning manager.
Scaloni guided Argentina to the 2022 championship and has taken the defending champions back to the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Argentina will face Spain in the final on July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium. (FIFA)
An Argentina victory would give Scaloni his second consecutive World Cup title. He would become only the second manager to win the competition twice and the first to accomplish the feat since Pozzo in 1938.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, meanwhile, is attempting to win his first World Cup championship.
Which Country Has Won Back-to-Back World Cups?
Only Italy and Brazil have won consecutive men’s FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Italy won in 1934 and 1938 under Vittorio Pozzo. Brazil later captured consecutive championships in 1958 and 1962, although the two Brazilian victories came under different managers.
That distinction makes Pozzo’s achievement unique. He did not simply coach a country that won consecutive titles—he personally managed the team throughout both championship campaigns.
Final Answer
Vittorio Pozzo has won the most FIFA World Cup titles as a manager, leading Italy to championships in 1934 and 1938.
He remains the only manager to win the men’s World Cup twice. Lionel Scaloni could match that record by leading Argentina to victory over Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.