France Football has announced its shortlist for the 2026 manager of the year award as the world’s biggest bosses go toe-to-toe for the Johan Cruyff Trophy.
The award, launched in 2024, is in recognition of the manager who has had the biggest influence through quality of tactical management and results from the previous season, after Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique won the inaugural and 2025 award respectively.
Lucho Enrique is in line for the second year in a row after leading PSG to back-to-back Champions League titles, the first time in the post-European Cup era that one side has managed back-to-back success since Real Madrid and Barcelona in 1998 and 2000.
Mikel Arteta has received a nomination after delivering a first Premier League trophy since 1998, failing only to deliver the Champions League trophy after suffering defeat against PSG in the final in Rome.
Luis de la Fuente is in with a shout after winning the World Cup with Spain, and Unai Emery after another successful year with Aston Villa and winning the Europa League as well as coming 4th in the Premier League. Vincent Kompany is also a contender after managing Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga.
Selected for women’s coach of the year are Jonatan Girldez, Andre Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu and Elena Sadiku, as we guarantee a new winner, with Emma Hayes and Sarina Wiegman taking the prize in previous years.
