FIFA confirm final shortlist for The Best Men's Coach award

Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Lionel Scaloni have been named the three finalists for The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award.

Last year’s winner was Thomas Tuchel, who ended Jurgen Klopp’s two-year reign with the trophy by finishing on top of a podium which also included Italy’s Roberto Mancini in second and Guardiola in third.

Guardiola is back for another crack at winning the award and the Manchester City boss is up against Real Madrid’s Ancelotti and Argentina’s Scaloni.

France’s Didier Deschamps and Morocco’s Walid Regragui were both on the initial five-man shortlist but an international panel, made up of men’s national team coaches, men’s national team captains, football journalists and fans have decided on the final three.

The award, which rewards a coach’s performances between August 8, 2021 and December 18, 2022, will be decided in a ceremony in Paris on February 27.

None of Ancelotti, Guardiola or Scaloni have ever won the award before. Indeed, Guardiola is the only one of the trio to make the final three, coming third last year and second in 2019.

The City boss will hope to go one better this time around, having led his side to Premier League glory, but he’ll have to see off competition from winners of two other major trophies.

Ancelotti’s Real won La Liga and the Champions League, whereas Scaloni’s success came in the international game as he led Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar.