Pep Guardiola has been named The Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2023.
Guardiola has been honoured with the award after overseeing an incredible period of success at Manchester City. The Spaniard led the club to a historic Premier League, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup treble in 2022/23.
Guardiola’s all-conquering team would win a further two trophies in 2023, lifting the UEFA Super Cup before rounding off the calendar year in perfect style by triumphing at the FIFA Club World Cup™.
Guardiola came out on top in the voting with 28 scoring points ahead of Italian duo Luciano Spalletti (18 points) and Simone Inzaghi (11 points). The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award was voted for by national team coaches and captains as well as expert journalists and supporters across the world. Votes were cast based on achievements from the period of 19 December 2022 to 20 August 2023.
The winner in focus
Guardiola cemented his status as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game in 2023. 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.
Guardiola became the first coach to win a treble of the league championship, main domestic cup and the UEFA Champions League on two occasions. He also won the three major trophies with Barcelona during 2008/09.
City kicked off their trophy haul by reeling in Arsenal to lift their third consecutive Premier League title. They clinched the FA Cup by memorably beating rivals Manchester United in the Wembley showpiece before Guardiola’s formidable team edged out Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
Guardiola has continued to add to his colossal collection of honours in 2023/24, with the UEFA Super Cup secured with a penalty-shootout win over Sevilla. The prevailing feeling that the Spaniard had shaped the finest team on the planet was then crystallized at the Club World Cup in December. Competing in the tournament for the first time, City emerged triumphant by overwhelming South American kings Fluminense 4-0 in the Jeddah final.
