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| World Soccer Manager of the Year | |
|---|---|
| Name | World Soccer Manager of the Year |
| Awarded for | Excellence in football management |
| Presenter | World Soccer magazine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| First awarded | 1982 |
World Soccer Manager of the Year The World Soccer Manager of the Year is an annual accolade presented by World Soccer to recognise outstanding achievement in professional football management. Established in the early 1980s, the award has highlighted managers from domestic leagues, continental competitions, and international tournaments across Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, and North America. Recipients have included tacticians linked with clubs such as Manchester United F.C., Real Madrid CF, AC Milan, and national teams including Brazil national football team and Germany national football team.
The award was inaugurated amid a growing international profile for club competitions like the European Cup and the Copa Libertadores, and for national tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship. Early winners were often associated with landmark achievements in competitions like the Football League First Division era and the early UEFA Champions League format. Over the decades, winners have been drawn from managers who succeeded at institutions including FC Barcelona, Juventus F.C., Bayern Munich, Liverpool F.C., Paris Saint-Germain F.C., Ajax Amsterdam, and Internazionale. The history of the prize parallels developments in club structures influenced by entities such as FIFA, UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, and prominent tournaments like the FIFA Club World Cup.
Selection has typically combined votes from an international panel of editors, journalists, and experts affiliated with publications and organisations including World Soccer (magazine), national football associations such as the The Football Association, and broadcasters like BBC Sport, Sky Sports, and ESPN. Voters consider performance in competitions including the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Champions League, Copa América, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and domestic leagues such as the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1. Criteria emphasize competitive results, tactical innovation, player development at clubs such as Atletico Madrid, S.S.C. Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, and Olympique de Marseille, as well as achievement with national sides including Argentina national football team and Spain national football team. The process has evolved to reflect statistical analysis from organisations like Opta Sports and performance metrics used by clubs including Manchester City F.C..
The award’s roll of honour features managers linked with milestone seasons in competitions such as the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and league campaigns in venues from Old Trafford to Camp Nou and Maracanã Stadium. Notable yearly winners have been associated with clubs including ACF Fiorentina, Boca Juniors, River Plate, SC Corinthians Paulista, Celtic F.C., Rangers F.C., SL Benfica, and Sporting CP. International successes for national teams at tournaments like the FIFA Confederations Cup or the African Cup of Nations have also propelled managers to yearly recognition. Managers from Japan national football team and South Korea national football team have been nominated following continental breakthroughs, while stewards of clubs such as Galatasaray S.K. and Fenerbahçe S.K. have been acknowledged for domestic dominance.
Recipients have included celebrated figures from different eras: managers associated with the tactical revolutions of Arrigo Sacchi and the continental dominance of Sir Alex Ferguson, winners from the Johan Cruyff lineage tied to Total Football, and innovators linked to Pep Guardiola’s coaching tree. The list includes managers who have won multiple domestic titles with AC Milan façades or steered national sides like Italy national football team and Netherlands national football team to major tournament finals. Records encompass longest-serving winners at clubs such as Real Sociedad and breakthrough winners from less-prominent leagues exemplified by managers at FC Basel and Rosenborg BK.
The award has influenced managerial reputations and career trajectories involving moves between clubs such as AS Roma, Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Chelsea F.C., and Manchester City F.C.. Recognition has enhanced negotiating positions in contracts with clubs owned by entities like Qatar Sports Investments and 19 Entertainment-style ownership groups, and has informed hiring decisions by federations including Royal Spanish Football Federation and German Football Association. The accolade has also intersected with trends in coaching education from institutions like the UEFA Pro Licence programme and academies such as La Masia and Clairefontaine.
Critics have questioned the award’s weighting toward managers from wealthier clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and Manchester City F.C., pointing to perceived biases similar to debates surrounding the Ballon d'Or. Accusations of regional imbalance have compared coverage disparities between CONMEBOL and AFC representatives, and commentary from journalists at outlets like The Guardian and The Telegraph has highlighted occasional disparities between statistical models from Stats Perform and subjective voting. Other controversies involve selections amid disputed circumstances involving clubs facing regulatory issues with organisations such as UEFA or national associations including Italian Football Federation.
Category:Association football trophies and awards