FIFA has announced the three finalists for the 2023 World Coach of the Year award. The top three in women’s soccer have also been decided
As the world governing body announced on Wednesday afternoon, the two Italian coaches Simone Inzaghi (Inter Milan) and Luciano Spalletti (SSC Napoli) have been nominated alongside Pep Guardiola of treble winners Manchester City.
However, there is probably no way around Guardiola’s selection. The Spaniard led Man City to the first treble in the club’s history in the 2022/23 season – the award recognizes achievements in the period from 1 August 2022 to 20 August 2023 -: The Citizens became both English champions and FA Cup winners and also triumphed in the Champions League.
In the final of the premier class, ManCity beat Inter, coached by Inzhagi, 1:0 – the fact that the Nerazzurri reached the final in Istanbul was somewhat surprising and was due in particular to their defensive stability: Inter went six of their eight knockout matches without conceding a goal.
Even more surprising was Napoli winning the Italian championship – the first for the southern Italians in 33 years. The 64-year-old Spalletti put together a perfectly functioning team that was particularly impressive in offense, scoring a league-best 77 goals. The Scudetto was won with just five match days to go – a record
Giraldez, Hayes and Wiegmann are up for election in women’s football
The top three in women’s soccer have also been decided. Here too, FC Barcelona’s Jonatan Giraldez, the winner of the premier class, made it into the final selection. In addition, the Barça women became Spanish champions and celebrated 27 consecutive league wins in the 2022/23 season.
In addition to Giraldez, last year’s winner Sarina Wiegman is also up for selection. The Dutchwoman led the English national team to the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where the “Lionesses” narrowly lost 1:0 to Spain. Wiegman has already been voted “European Coach of the Year” and, alongside Giraldez, is likely to have the best chance of winning. The third player in the squad, England’s Emma Hayes, who won the league and FA Cup double with Chelsea in the 2022/23 season, is an outsider.
The winners will be announced at a gala in London on January 15, 2024. Until then, the coaches and captains of all national teams, one specialist journalist from each nation with a national team and fans registered on FIFA.com from all over the world will vote. All votes from the different groups will have the same weight
Neid honored three times, Klopp twice
The FIFA World Coach and FIFA Women’s World Coach trophies have been awarded since 2010. In the men’s category, four German coaches have already received the award: Jupp Heynckes (2013), Joachim Löw (2014), Jürgen Klopp (2019, 2020) and Thomas Tuchel (2021). Former national team coach Silvia Neid has won the women’s award three times (2010, 2013, 2016), while former Wolfsburg coach Ralf Kellermann won the award in 2014.