FIFA COACH OF THE YEAR: THE FINALIST
Pep GUARDIOLA
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- Pep Guardiola had to make do with just one trophy in his second season at Bayern Munich, though the Catalan coach’s stats at the helm of the Bavarian giants were once again highly impressive. At times controversial, the 44-year-old tactician’s rotation policy did bear fruit in the Bundesliga, where his team took hold of top spot on matchday five and remained there for the rest of the season. Bayern were thus crowned champions with the best goals for and against records, shipping just 18 strikes in 34 league encounters. An unfortunate run of injuries dented Bayern’s potency in the other competitions they challenged for, and they lost out in the semi-finals of the German Cup and the UEFA Champions League. Sinking them in the latter tournament were Barcelona, spearheaded by an inspired Lionel Messi who Guardiola was unable to find a way to stop, despite knowing him so well.
LUIS ENRIQUE
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- The Asturias-born coach could barely have enjoyed a better first season on the bench of Barcelona, the 45-year-old supremo leadingLos Culés to their second ever treble of La Liga, El Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League. What is more, the former midfielder did so with the best record in Azulgrana history, his team racking up 50 wins, four draws and just six defeats in 2014/15. Enrique’s team subsequently added the 2015 UEFA Super Cup to an already packed trophy cabinet. The stats backed up Enrique’s ability to successfully rotate and manage his squad, despite regularly coming under fire from sections of the press. The latter trend has intensified during the start of 2015/16, which has seen Barça’s results hampered by an unfortunate string of injuries.
Jorge SAMPAOLI
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- At the age of 55, Jorge Sampaoli enjoyed the greatest achievement of his coaching career so far, by guiding Chile to a historic first-ever triumph in the Copa America. The title won at Chile 2015 is a worthy reward for the Argentinian strategist who, ever since taking charge of La Roja in late 2012, has not stopped evolving and improving his team. Impressive at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, Chile were under pressure to take their performances up a further notch, a feat they achieved at the Copa America. Not only did Chile end up champions, reversing the course of a history devoid of major trophy success, they were also the competition’s best all-round team. Voracious in attack, their 13-goal tally higher was than any other side. Opponents could not handle the intensity of their pressing nor a style of football based around control and swift passing. In other words, Chile did exactly what Sampaoli had intended.
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