The organizers of the Ballon d’Or have announced the final nominees for the 2026 Best Coach in the World award, with strong competition between several leading managers who enjoyed major success at domestic, continental and international levels. The biggest surprise, however, was the absence of German coach Hans Flick, the manager of Barcelona. ⚽🏆🔥
The shortlist features five coaches who enjoyed impressive campaigns with their national teams and clubs, creating a highly competitive race for one of football’s most prestigious individual coaching awards.
De la Fuente Leads the Nominees
Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente, head coach of Spain, leads the list of nominees after being associated with a historic achievement with the national team.
De la Fuente has overseen strong performances from La Roja, building a team with organization, discipline and the ability to deal with major matches.
Spain also stood out defensively under his leadership, conceding only one goal throughout the tournament, further strengthening his case for the award.
Arteta Ends Arsenal’s Long Wait
Spanish coach Mikel Arteta is one of the strongest contenders after guiding Arsenal to the Premier League title, ending a 22-year wait.
Arteta’s success did not stop at the domestic level as he also led the London club to the Champions League final, underlining the success of the project he has built at Arsenal.
The club has become one of the strongest contenders for major trophies under his leadership.
Luis Enrique Remains in Contention
Spanish coach Luis Enrique, manager of Paris Saint-Germain, also features among the nominees following his continued success with the French club.
Enrique has continued to lead PSG toward major domestic and European competitions while producing impressive performances.
His nomination further confirms his status among the leading coaches in world football.
Unai Emery Continues to Impress
Spanish coach Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa, has also been nominated after another strong campaign.
Emery has maintained his tactical quality and continued producing impressive results in the Premier League, helping Aston Villa compete with stronger opponents.
His nomination represents recognition of his work with the club.
Kompany Completes the List
Belgian coach Vincent Kompany, manager of Bayern Munich, completes the shortlist after guiding the Bavarian giants to domestic dominance.
Bayern produced attractive attacking football under Kompany and also enjoyed a strong Champions League campaign by reaching the later stages.
The achievements give the Belgian coach an opportunity to compete for one of the biggest individual coaching awards.
Hans Flick’s Absence Raises Questions
The absence of Hans Flick, Barcelona’s manager, was the most surprising aspect of the shortlist.
Flick was left out despite achieving major domestic success with the Catalan club, raising questions about the criteria used to select the final five nominees.
Barcelona’s European campaign may have influenced the decision.
Why Was Flick Left Out?
Flick’s absence is particularly notable because the German coach guided Barcelona to important domestic achievements.
However, the Best Coach award is not based solely on the number of trophies won. Overall performance, results in major competitions and the ability to build a competitive team across multiple fronts also matter.
That makes Flick’s omission one of the biggest talking points of the nominations.
Five Coaches Compete for the Award
The 2026 Best Coach award will be contested by:
Luis de la Fuente – Spain.
Mikel Arteta – Arsenal.
Luis Enrique – Paris Saint-Germain.
Unai Emery – Aston Villa.
Vincent Kompany – Bayern Munich.
The shortlist combines coaches who achieved success with national teams and managers who made a strong impact at leading European clubs.
Different Achievements, Same Goal
The race is notable because each nominee has a different path to the shortlist.
De la Fuente enters through international success, while Arteta relies on his historic Arsenal campaign.
Luis Enrique and Kompany have strong club records with PSG and Bayern Munich, while Emery continues to demonstrate his ability to build competitive teams in the Premier League.
Arteta Targets Individual Recognition
After guiding Arsenal to the Premier League title and the Champions League final, Arteta now has another opportunity to add a major individual honor to his career.
His nomination recognizes the significant progress Arsenal have made under his leadership.
De la Fuente Eyes a Major Honor
Luis de la Fuente enters the race with a strong case after his success with Spain, particularly the team’s defensive strength throughout the tournament.
His nomination reflects his role in building a national team capable of competing with a strong identity on the biggest stage.
Enrique Remains Among the Elite
Luis Enrique’s inclusion confirms his continued status among the world’s leading coaches.
His success with Paris Saint-Germain and his ability to manage a squad filled with top-level talent strengthen his case.
Emery Maintains His Status
Unai Emery remains one of the most respected names in modern coaching thanks to his experience and ability to compete across domestic and European competitions.
His nomination comes after another season in which he showed his ability to guide Aston Villa to a strong level.
Kompany Builds His Reputation
Vincent Kompany continues to develop his coaching reputation after taking charge of Bayern Munich and achieving important success with the German giants.
His nomination gives him an opportunity to establish himself among the world’s leading managers.
Ballon d’Or Continues to Surprise
The Best Coach shortlist adds to the surprises surrounding the 2026 Ballon d’Or, particularly with the omission of Hans Flick.
The excitement is expected to increase as the awards ceremony approaches and the football world waits to discover the winner.
Who Will Win?
The race remains open between five coaches, each with a strong case based on their achievements.
The final decision will depend on how voters assess their results, trophies and overall tactical impact throughout the season.
Fans Await the Final Decision
With different achievements and closely matched cases, the Best Coach competition could remain unpredictable until the final announcement.
Hans Flick’s absence will likely continue to be one of the biggest talking points among Barcelona fans and European football supporters.
✨ The Ballon d’Or race for Best Coach is heating up as De la Fuente, Arteta, Luis Enrique, Emery and Kompany compete, while Hans Flick’s absence creates a major surprise. 🏆🔥⚽
📢 Who deserves the 2026 Best Coach award most?
