FIFA have released a five-man shortlist for The Best Men’s Coach award for 2022.
This year’s awards will be judged based on performances from August 2021 up until the conclusion of the World Cup in December 2022.
Following their dramatic victory in Qatar, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has been nominated for the award. He also steered La Albiceleste to a run of one loss in 43 games – their only defeat came in their World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia.
The manager Scaloni defeated in the final, France’s Didier Deschamps, is also up for the award. The former defensive midfielder took home the award in 2018 following Les Bleus’ World Cup glory, while he has steered his country to three finals in their last four major tournaments. France also won the 2021 Nations League.
The other international manager on the shortlist is Morocco’s Walid Regragui. He became the first African coach to reach a World Cup quarter-final, before the Atlas Lions became the first team from the continent to qualify for the semi-finals.
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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is up for the award after winning a Champions League and La Liga double last season, becoming the first coach in history to claim the league title in all of Europe’s top five leagues.
Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola completes the shortlist having led his side to back-to-back Premier League titles.
Voting will run from 12 January until 3 February. Media representatives, national coaches, national captains and fans will all get 25% of the vote, with polls open on FIFA’s website.
Credit: 90min.com
