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France Football has unveiled the full shortlist of nominees for the 2026 Coach of the Year award, as the best tacticians across men’s and women’s football battle for the prestigious honour.
The trophy is named after the iconic Johan Cruyff and was inaugurated in 2024 to honour the best coaches masterminding their teams’ success across European football. Brazilian head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who was Real Madrid’s manager at the time, picked up the inaugural edition of the illustrious award. Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique won the award in 2025 after leading The Parisians to a maiden UEFA Champions League title. Five nominees have been shortlisted after another blockbuster season of European football.
The nominations highlight the tactical brilliance and technical acumen of Spanish coaches, with 80% of the total nominations in the men’s category. This outright domination marks a golden era for Spanish tacticians. The only exception is Belgium’s Vincent Kompany.
LUIS ENRIQUE
Luis Enrique has picked up a second consecutive nomination, after guiding PSG to a record-equalling second consecutive Champions League title. PSG became the second club to do so after Real Madrid in the Champions League era. The Parisians dominated Ligue 1 and clinched a fifth straight title.
LUIS DE LA FUENTE
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente is a strong contender for the award, after steering Spain to a historic triumph at the World Cup this summer. De La Fuente finished third in the race for the 2024 award following Spain’s European Championship triumph. His triumph on the global stage has put him in the spotlight for the award again.
MIKEL ARTETA
Mikel Arteta delivered Arsenal’s first EPL title in 22 years and is a deserved inclusion in the battle for the award. Arteta also led Arsenal to the finals of the Champions League, where they lost to Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain side on penalties and narrowly missed out on a double. It was a memorable season for Arsenal that cemented their return to the highest levels of European football.
VINCENT KOMPANY
Vincent Kompany was the brain behind Bayern Munich’s domestic and continental success last season as the Bavarians bamboozled their way across Europe, ruthlessly thrashing opponents along the way. Bayern Munich secured a domestic double but were undone in Europe by eventual winners PSG in a thrilling semi-final classic. Bayern shattered the all-time Bundesliga goalscoring record in a single season with a remarkable 122 goals. Their performances emphatically silenced Vincent Kompany’s critics.
UNAI EMERY
Unai Emery, Mr UEFA Europa League and Aston Villa’s head coach, is in the running for the top gong too. Emery masterminded Aston Villa’s Europa League title triumph — their first major trophy in 30 years and led them to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League
Luis Enrique, Luis De La Fuente and Mikel Arteta are the staunch favourites for the men’s award. OL Lyonnes manager Jonatan Giráldez will battle against Manchester City’s Andrée Jeglertz, former Japan manager Nils Nielsen, Barcelona’s Pere Romeu and BK Häcken boss Elena Sadiku for the Women’s Coach of the year award.
2026 Men’s Coach of the Year Award Nominees in Full:
Luis Enrique — PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Luis de la Fuente — SPAIN
Mikel Arteta — ARSENAL FC
Unai Emery — ASTON VILLA
Vincent Kompany — FC BAYERN MUNICH
2026 Women’s Coach of the Year Award Nominees in Full:
Jonatan Giráldez — OL LYONNES
Andrée Jeglertz — MANCHESTER CITY
Nils Nielsen — Japan (currently unattached)
Pere Romeu — Barcelona FEMENI
Elena Sadiku — CELTIC/BK HÄCKEN
