Men’s Coach of the Year
Mikel Arteta’s nomination follows Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 years, a campaign that also saw the club reach the Champions League final, where they were beaten by holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Luis Enrique, the coach they lost to, is nominated after guiding PSG to a second consecutive Champions League title alongside another Ligue 1 crown, making them only the second club in the post-European Cup era to retain Europe’s top prize.
Vincent Kompany earns his nomination after leading Bayern Munich to a domestic double in Germany and a run to the Champions League semi-finals, where they were eliminated by PSG.
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Unai Emery’s Aston Villa won the Europa League, the club’s first major trophy in over three decades, while also securing a fourth-placed Premier League finish and a return to the Champions League.
Spain’s Luis de la Fuente completes the men’s shortlist after guiding La Roja to the 2026 World Cup, following his side’s continental success at Euro 2024.
Women’s Coach of the Year
Pere Romeu earns his nomination after guiding Barcelona to a domestic treble and the Champions League title, cementing the club’s status as the dominant force in the women’s game.
Jonatan Giráldez, who won back-to-back Champions League titles with Barcelona before a brief spell in the NWSL, is nominated for his first season at OL Lyonnes, where he led the club to a domestic treble of their own and a Champions League final appearance, losing out to his former club.
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Andrée Jeglertz’s nomination follows a WSL title win with Manchester City, ending Chelsea’s grip on the English league, along with a League Cup triumph.
Elena Sadiku had an unusual campaign split between two clubs, winning Celtic’s first SWPL1 title before moving to BK Häcken, where she went on to win the Women’s Europa Cup.
Nils Nielsen completes the women’s shortlist for his work with Japan, having led the team to Asian Cup glory in March 2026 before departing the role.
Winners in both categories will be selected by the Ballon d’Or’s international jury and revealed alongside the other awards at the ceremony in London.
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