Johan Cruyff Trophy: The Best Coach Nominations Announced
The nominees for the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year (Johan Cruyff Trophy) were announced on September 8, 2026. The winners will be revealed at the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26, 2026.
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Men’s Coach of the Year Nominees
Four of the five nominees are Spanish managers, reflecting Spain’s current dominance in top-flight football management.
| Manager | Club/Country | Key Achievement |
| Mikel Arteta | Arsenal | Ended Arsenal’s 22-year wait for the EPL Title |
| Luis de la Fuente | Spain National Team | Led Spain to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Title |
| Unai Emery | Aston Villa | Lifted the UEFA Europa League and secured a top-4 Premier League finish |
| Luis Enrique | Paris Saint-Germain | Successfully defended the Ligue 1 Title and the UEFA Champions League |
| Vincent Kompany | Bayern Munich | Secured a dominant Bundesliga Title with Bayern Munich |
Women’s Coach of the Year Nominees
| Manager | Club/Country |
| Jonatan Giraldez | OL Lyonnes |
| Andree Jeglertz | Manchester City |
| Nils Nielsen | Japan National Team |
| Pere Romeu | FC Barcelona |
| Elena Sadiku | Celtic/BK Hacken |
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