France Football and the Ballon d’Or have officially revealed the shortlisted nominees for the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year awards, recognizing the world’s elite tactical minds ahead of the upcoming gala ceremony. The five nominees for the Men’s Coach of the Year award highlight a campaign defined by remarkable domestic dominance, European triumphs, and national team success. The shortlisted managers for the men’s honor are Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente, and Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany.
English football features prominently on the men’s ballot following an exceptional domestic and European season. Mikel Arteta earned his spot among the nominees after guiding Arsenal to the Premier League title, securing top-flight glory for the North London club. Joining him from the Premier League is Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, who enjoyed a monumental campaign in the Midlands. Emery spearheaded Villa to silverware by winning the UEFA Europa League while simultaneously guiding the club to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.
On the European continent, Vincent Kompany makes the elite shortlist following a brilliant debut campaign in Germany. Kompany led Bayern Munich to the German double while also taking the Bavarian side to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique orchestrated a dominant year in France and across Europe, capturing the Ligue 1 title before guiding PSG to Champions League glory. International football is represented by Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente, who successfully guided his national team to the 2026 World Cup, completing a men’s shortlist heavily dominated by native Spanish managers.
In tandem with the men’s category, the five contenders for the 2026 Women’s Coach of the Year award have also been officially unveiled. Manchester City boss Andrew Jeglertz and Celtic manager Elena Sadiku feature on the prestigious shortlist alongside Jonatan Giraldez, Nils Nielsen, and Pere Romeu. The nominations celebrate the five tacticians who have set the standard across domestic leagues and European competitions in the women’s game.
With the nominees now locked in, attention turns to the upcoming Ballon d’Or gala, where the winners will be formally crowned. From league champions and European cup winners to World Cup qualifiers, the shortlisted managers represent the absolute pinnacle of coaching achievements over the past year.
