The five nominees for the Ballon d’Or Coach of the Year 2026, officially the Johan Cruyff Trophy, have been announced. The biggest talking point isn’t who made the list, but who didn’t: Barcelona’s Hansi Flick, who won La Liga for the second year in a row.
The full shortlist
| Coach | Team | 2025-26 achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Luis Enrique | Paris Saint-Germain | Second straight Champions League |
| Mikel Arteta | Arsenal | Premier League title, Champions League final |
| Luis de la Fuente | Spain | World Cup winner |
| Unai Emery | Aston Villa | Europa League winner, 4th in Premier League |
| Vincent Kompany | Bayern Munich | Bundesliga title, record 122 goals |
The winner will be named at the ceremony in London on 26 October, the first Ballon d’Or ceremony held outside Paris.
Why Flick’s absence stands out
On paper, Flick had a strong case. Barcelona won La Liga with 94 points and 95 goals, eight points clear of Real Madrid, and also beat Madrid 3-2 in the Supercopa final. It followed a 2024-25 season in which he won a domestic treble in his first year, which earned him second place behind Luis Enrique at FIFA’s The Best awards.
Why he probably missed out
The answer is Europe. Barcelona went out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals, beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Atlético Madrid after losing the first leg 2-0 at home. Atlético also knocked them out of the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Every nominee either won a European or world title, or won their league with a record-breaking season. A La Liga and Supercopa double, while impressive, wasn’t enough in a year this strong.
The case for each nominee
Luis de la Fuente led Spain to the 2026 World Cup, conceding just one goal all tournament. His side beat Argentina 1-0 in the final.
Luis Enrique won the Champions League again with PSG, beating Arsenal in the final. Real Madrid are the only other club to retain the trophy in the Champions League era. He won this award in 2025.
Mikel Arteta won Arsenal’s first league title in 22 years and reached the Champions League final.
Unai Emery won the Europa League with Aston Villa and still finished fourth in the Premier League.
Vincent Kompany won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, whose 122 goals set a new record.
A shortlist that divides opinion
Some fans think Flick deserved a place for his domestic dominance. Others argue that European and international success should count for more. What’s clear is that it’s one of the strongest coaching shortlists in the award’s short history. Four of the five nominees are Spanish.
FAQ
Who are the Ballon d’Or Coach of the Year 2026 nominees?
Luis Enrique (PSG), Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Luis de la Fuente (Spain), Unai Emery (Aston Villa) and Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich).
Why was Hansi Flick left out?
Barcelona won La Liga and the Supercopa but went out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals and the Copa del Rey in the semi-finals, both to Atlético Madrid.
Who won the award in 2025?
Luis Enrique, after PSG’s first Champions League title.
When is the 2026 ceremony?
26 October 2026 in London.
Sources: Sports Illustrated; Goal; FC Barcelona; Sports Mole; FIFA.
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