Arteta, Enrique, De la Fuente Lead 2026 Ballon d’Or Coach of the Year Nominees

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique and Spain World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente are among the five nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Men’s Coach of the Year award.

The shortlist, announced Tuesday by France Football and the Ballon d’Or organisers, is dominated by Spanish coaches, with Arteta, Enrique, De la Fuente and Unai Emery joined by Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany.

The award recognises the coach judged to have made the biggest impact during the relevant football season, taking into account factors including trophies, quality of play, leadership, tactical ability and the development of players.

Mikel Arteta earned his nomination after guiding Arsenal to the Premier League title, ending the club’s long wait for the English championship.

Luis Enrique is also among the leading contenders after guiding PSG to another highly successful campaign, including the Champions League, Ligue 1 and several other major honours.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente enters the race with perhaps the biggest international achievement of the group after leading Spain to the 2026 FIFA World Cup title.

That triumph has put De la Fuente firmly among the favourites for the award.

Unai Emery, meanwhile, was nominated after Aston Villa’s impressive campaign, highlighted by their Europa League triumph.

Completing the men’s shortlist is Vincent Kompany, who guided Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup.

The women’s category has also produced a five-person shortlist.

The nominees are Jonatan Giráldez of OL Lyonnes, Andrée Jeglertz of Manchester City, Nils Nielsen of Japan, Pere Romeu of Barcelona and Elena Sadiku of BK Häcken.

Romeu enjoyed a particularly decorated season with Barcelona, winning the Women’s Champions League, Spanish league, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Super Cup. Giráldez, meanwhile, led Lyonnes to the French championship, French Cup and French League Cup.

Jeglertz guided Manchester City to the Women’s Super League and FA Cup, while Nielsen led Japan to the Asian Cup. Sadiku’s campaign included the Europa Cup with Häcken.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London on October 26, marking the first time the prestigious awards ceremony has been staged in the British capital.

The 2026 edition is particularly significant because it is the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The coach awards will be presented alongside the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, goalkeeper, young-player and club awards.

With Spain providing four of the five men’s coaching nominees, the race for the Johan Cruyff Trophy is already shaping up as one of the most closely watched contests of the ceremony.