football
Guardiola and Wiegmann honored in FIFA election
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola accepts the award for best men’s coach. photo
© Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP/dpa
Pep Guardiola collects another award after his super year with Manchester City. The Spaniard is celebrated on the FIFA stage. The World Cup finalist will be the best coach.
The Spaniard Pep Guardiola has been named World Coach of the Year for the second time.
The 52-year-old, who won the treble with Manchester City in 2023, prevailed in the vote by the world football association FIFA against the Italians Simone Inzaghi (47/Inter Milan) and Luciano Spalletti 64/SSC Naples/Italy). The Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman (54), who led the English national team to the World Cup final in the summer, was honored as the best coach.
Guardiola won the election of captains, coaches, fans and journalists for the first time in 2011, when he was still coach of FC Barcelona. “Thank you very much,” said the former FC Bayern coach on stage at London’s Hammersmith Apollo. “I want to share this trophy with Simone and Luciano. I want to share this trophy with Manchester.” At the end of his speech, the former professional also thanked his family, who accompanied him to the English metropolis.
Wiegman had already won the FIFA election in 2017, 2020 and 2022. “Some of you are probably thinking: ‘Here she is again’. I’m sorry,” said the cheerful Dutchwoman. She prevailed in the election against the Spaniard Jonatan Giraldez (32/FC Barcelona) and the Englishwoman Emma Hayes (47/FC Chelsea).