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France Football has officially announced the shortlist for the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year awards, shining a light on the tactical minds who shaped the previous season. The nominations for the Johan Cruyff Trophy are overwhelmingly led by Spanish coaches, underlining a golden phase for the country’s managerial exports across Europe’s elite leagues.

Luis Enrique chases a historic repeat with PSG

Luis Enrique is once again in focus after another outstanding year in the French capital. The Paris Saint-Germain manager, who won the prize in 2025, is now looking to retain his title after guiding the Paris club to a second straight Champions League crown.

The Johan Cruyff Trophy, first presented in 2024 to Carlo Ancelotti, honours managers whose tactical excellence and innovation deliver the most notable success on the pitch. Enrique’s tactical adaptability and his capacity to handle a squad packed with stars through the demands of European knockout football have once again put him among the leading contenders.

Arteta and Emery spearhead the Premier League challenge

Joining Enrique on the men’s shortlist is Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who finally ended the Gunners’ long wait for domestic supremacy. Arteta restored Premier League glory to north London for the first time in 22 years, only just missing out on a double after losing to PSG in the Champions League final.

Completing the Spanish presence in England is Unai Emery, who continues to work wonders at Aston Villa. Emery guided Villa to Europa League glory last season and also secured an impressive fourth-place finish in the Premier League, sealing Champions League qualification for the Birmingham side.

De la Fuente sets his sights on the award

On the international stage, Luis de la Fuente remains the benchmark. After finishing third in the 2024 rankings following Spain’s European Championship triumph, the experienced tactician has enhanced his reputation even further this year. De la Fuente oversaw a historic campaign as La Roja stormed to victory at the 2026 World Cup, showing that his possession-based system still represents the gold standard in the modern game.

The only non-Spaniard on the men’s shortlist is Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany. The Belgian coach is in contention for his first Coach of the Year honour after leading the Bavarian giants to a dominant Bundesliga title. Under his leadership, Bayern broke the all-time Bundesliga goals record by scoring a remarkable 122 goals last season.

The contest for the trophy reflects the present shift in the balance of power in European coaching, with Spanish ideas being successfully applied across a range of top-level environments.

New era for Women’s Coach of the Year

The Women’s Coach of the Year award will also be presented for the third time next month, and a first-time winner is certain. After Emma Hayes won in 2024 and Sarina Wiegman followed in 2025, the 2026 shortlist includes a wide mix of coaching talent. Barcelona coach Pere Romeu is a strong contender alongside Manchester City’s Andree Jeglertz and former Japan manager Nils Nielsen.

Completing the women’s nominees are OL Lyonnes’ Jonatan Giraldez and current BK Hacken boss Elena Sadiku. Sadiku’s place on the shortlist is especially notable because she started the season with Celtic before moving on to guide the Swedish club to a historic Europa Cup triumph.