The official nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Men’s Coach of the Year award have been announced, with five prominent managers shortlisted for the prestigious honour.
The nominees were unveiled by France Football on September 8, 2026, as part of the official Ballon d’Or shortlists. The award recognises the outstanding men’s coach based on achievements during the 2025/26 season, including performances in international competitions.
The five coaches nominated are Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany and Luis Enrique.
Mikel Arteta — Arsenal
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta earned a place on the shortlist after guiding the London club to the Premier League title during the 2025/26 campaign.
The league triumph represents another significant milestone in Arteta’s managerial career and further highlights Arsenal’s progress under his leadership.
Luis de la Fuente — Spain
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente is another strong contender after leading the national team to World Cup glory in 2026.
Winning football’s biggest international tournament has placed De la Fuente among the leading candidates for the coaching prize. His success has also strengthened Spain’s presence among the major honours at this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Unai Emery — Aston Villa
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery also secured a nomination following an impressive 2025/26 season.
Emery guided Villa to the Europa League title while also securing a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, earning the club qualification for the Champions League.
The European triumph adds another major trophy to Emery’s already decorated managerial career.
Vincent Kompany — Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany is the only non-Spanish coach on the five-man shortlist.
The former Manchester City captain enjoyed a successful second season in charge of the German giants, leading Bayern to the Bundesliga title, German Cup and German Super Cup.
His nomination marks another important step in Kompany’s transition from an accomplished player to one of Europe’s emerging managerial figures.
Luis Enrique — Paris Saint-Germain
Defending winner Luis Enrique has also been nominated for the 2026 award after another highly successful campaign with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Spanish manager guided PSG to another Champions League triumph, alongside other domestic and international honours.
Enrique won the 2025 Coach of the Year award after leading PSG to their first Champions League title. He will now attempt to become the first manager to retain the individual award.
Who Is the Favourite for the Award?
The race remains open, with all five nominees having strong claims based on their achievements during the season.
De la Fuente could have an advantage following Spain’s World Cup triumph, while Enrique’s Champions League success, Arteta’s Premier League title, Emery’s Europa League victory and Kompany’s domestic treble give the other nominees compelling cases.
Interestingly, four of the five nominees are Spanish, underlining Spain’s strong influence on elite football management.
When Will the Winner Be Announced?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26, 2026.
The Coach of the Year winner will be selected by an international jury of specialist journalists. Each juror will choose two coaches from the five nominees, with two points awarded to their first choice and one point to their second. The coach with the highest number of points will claim the award.
The five nominees will now wait for the ceremony as the football world prepares to find out who will be crowned the 2026 Ballon d’Or Men’s Coach of the Year.
