Pep Guardiola wins FIFA Best Coach

By Rhoda Etuk

Posted on January 16, 2024

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was named best FIFA men’s coach at the Best Fifa Football Awards in London.

The Spaniard was honored with the award after leading Manchester City to a historic Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and FA Cup treble in 2022/23. Guardiola’s all-conquering team further rounded up 2023 in style by lifting the UEFA Super Cup before rounding off the calendar year in perfect style by triumphing at the FIFA Club World Cup.

His Manchester City team swept all before them at home and abroad, consistently showcasing elite technical quality, outstanding tactical awareness, and a relentless winning mentality.

The 52-year-old Spaniard topped the vote with 28 scoring points ahead of fellow finalists Simone Inzaghi (11points) and Luciano Spalletti (18 points).

Inzaghi was in charge of the Inter Milan team that lost 1-0 to City in the Champions League final after winning the Coppa Italia while Spalletti led Napoli to their first Serie A title in more than 30 years.

Spalletti then left Napoli at the end of last season after winning their first Serie A title and was appointed as the new boss of the Italy men’s national team.

Guardiola became the first coach to win a treble of the league championship, the main domestic cup, and the UEFA Champions League on two occasions. He also won three major trophies with Barcelona during 2008/09, cementing his status as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game in 2023.

Guardiola is the first Spaniard to win The Best FIFA Men’s Coach Award, which was launched in 2016. He had previously placed second in 2019 before coming third in 2021 and 2022.

Manchester City’s Ederson collected the goalkeeper award ahead of Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois and Al Hilal’s Yassine Bounou.