FIFA have announced the six managers who have been named as finalists for both awards, with Wiegman being among Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes and Barcelona Femeni’s Jonatan Giraldez as the trio in contention for the Women’s Coach award. Pep Guardiola is going up against Italian coaches Simone Inzaghi and Luciano Spalletti for the men’s gong.
Wiegman will be hoping to receive the Women’s Coach award a record fourth time, having already won it in 2017, 2020 and 2022. The Dutch national enjoyed yet another fantastic year as England’s manager in 2023, guiding the Lionesses to their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup final – a final they would eventually lose to Spain in Australia.
Hayes, another former winner of the award, has earned her spot on the shortlist thanks to another domestic double-winning campaign at Chelsea, while Giraldez has earned his first nomination having guided Barcelona Femini to a famous UEFA Champions League triumph during the 2022/23 season.
Guardiola will be the heavy favourite to win Best FIFA Men’s Coach award this time round having won a remarkable treble with Man City last season. Surprisingly, Guardiola has never finished higher than second place in voting for the award in previous years – achieving a second place finish in 2019.
The Man City boss will be up against Coppa Italia winner and Champions League finalist Inzaghi, as well as Spalletti, the man who led Napoli to their first Scudetto in over three decades for the prize.
The winners of both awards will be revealed at a London ceremony on 15 January 2024 – the third time the ceremony has been held in the English capital.
source:90mins.com
