Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique and Spain coach Luis de la Fuente are among five nominees for the 2026 Men’s Coach of the Year award.
The shortlist was announced by the Ballon d’Or award organisers on Tuesday, recognising coaches for their performances and achievements during the 2025/26 football season.
Arteta, Enrique and De la Fuente are joined by Aston Villa manager Unai Emery and Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany in the final five-man list.
Four of the nominees are Spanish, while Kompany is the only Belgian on the shortlist.
Mikel Arteta — Arsenal
Arteta enjoyed a highly successful 2025/26 campaign with Arsenal, guiding the Gunners to the Premier League title and ending the club’s 22-year wait for the English top-flight trophy.
The 44-year-old Spaniard took charge of Arsenal in 2019 and has since added several honours to the club’s trophy cabinet, including four Emirates Cups, one FA Cup and three Community Shields.
Arteta also recently reached another personal milestone after taking charge of his 250th Premier League match.
His Premier League triumph now places him among the leading contenders for the coaching award.
Luis Enrique — Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Enrique enters the shortlist as the defending Men’s Coach of the Year after winning the award for the 2024/25 season.
The former Barcelona manager has continued his success with Paris Saint-Germain, guiding the French champions to consecutive Champions League titles in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons.
Enrique previously won La Liga and the Champions League with Barcelona and has built an impressive collection of honours since moving to France.
His PSG record includes three domestic league titles, one FIFA Intercontinental Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, two Coupe de France trophies and three Trophée des Champions titles.
Luis de la Fuente — Spain
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is another major contender following a remarkable run with the national team.
The 65-year-old was credited with leading Spain to victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a feat that reportedly made him the oldest manager to win the tournament.
De la Fuente took charge of Spain in 2024 and has since guided La Roja to three major international trophies.
His honours include the 2023 UEFA Nations League title, Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup.
Unai Emery — Aston Villa
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery completes the Spanish contingent on the shortlist.
The 54-year-old guided Villa to Europa League success during the 2025/26 campaign, adding another European achievement to his already decorated managerial career.
Emery has also reached the 200-match mark during his time at Aston Villa and has recorded a reported 55 per cent win rate.
The Spaniard is particularly renowned for his Europa League record, having won the competition three consecutive times with Sevilla before securing another title with Aston Villa.
Vincent Kompany — Bayern Munich
Vincent Kompany is the only non-Spanish coach among the five nominees.
The former Manchester City and Belgium captain became Bayern Munich manager in 2024 after moving into coaching following his playing career.
Kompany has reportedly guided the German giants to five trophies, including two Bundesliga titles, two German Super Cups and one DFB-Pokal.
His success at Bayern has now earned him a place among the contenders for the 2026 Men’s Coach of the Year award.
The winner will be announced as part of the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards, with the five nominees recognised for their respective achievements during the 2025/26 season.