Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was named the winner of FIFA’s Best Men’s Coach award for 2023 on Monday, with England’s Sarina Wiegman scooping the women’s prize.
Guardiola led City to a remarkable Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League treble last season, a feat only previously achieved by Manchester United’s iconic 1998-99 side.
Having edged out Arsenal to win their third straight domestic title, City beat local rivals United in the FA Cup final then overcame Serie A giants Inter in a tense Champions League final in Istanbul, as Rodri’s goal proved decisive.
That achievement led to Guardiola being honoured at FIFA’s annual awards ceremony in London, seeing off competition from Inter’s Simone Inzaghi and Napoli’s Luciano Spalletti as he landed the prize for the first time.
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Speaking to ceremony host Thierry Henry, Guardiola compared City’s treble to the one he won with Barcelona in 2008-09, saying the Citizens’ lack of prior European success made their triumph sweeter.
“Barcelona is the club of my heart, they are the reason why I am here,” Guardiola said. “But doing it with Man City, 15 or 20 years ago we were not here.
“We have built step by step since Roberto Mancini was here. All those years ago, we could not expect to be here.”
Our boss!! 🤩#THEBEST FIFA Men’s Coach 2023! ⭐️@PEPTEAM 🩵 PIC.TWITTER.COM/P8XJ7UKQCX
— Manchester City (@ManCity) JANUARY 15, 2024
City also dominated the FIFPRO Men’s World XI, with John Stones, Ruben Dias, Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland making the team.
Meanwhile, Lionesses boss Wiegman won the Best Women’s Coach award for a record-extending fourth-time, beating Chelsea’s Emma Hayes and Barcelona Femeni boss Jonatan Giraldez to the prize.
Wiegman, who previously landed the trophy in 2017, 2020 and 2022, led England to the final of last year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where they were beaten 1-0 by Spain.
Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps saved a penalty from Jenni Hermoso in the showpiece game, and she was named the Best Women’s Goalkeeper as she claimed another individual honour less than a month after winning the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year trophy.
Incredibly, seven England players were named in the FIFPRO Women’s World XI, with Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Alessia Russo, Lauren James and Ella Toone joining Earps in being selected.
Congratulations, boss!
Sarina Wiegman is #THEBEST FIFA Women’s Coach for a FOURTH time! 👏 🏆 PIC.TWITTER.COM/PXVEQKLXTA
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) JANUARY 15, 2024
