Wiegman & Guardiola Win UEFA Coach Of The Year Awards
Sarina Wiegman and Pep Guardiola win women’s and men’s Coach of the Year awards in Monaco on Thursday (31st Aug).
England coach, Sarina Wiegman was voted the 2022/23 UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year. The Dutch coach, who led the England women’s national team to the final of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer after having overseen England’s EURO 2022 success last year, collected a total of 211 points in a special poll featuring coaches and journalists.
Weigman dedicated her award to the Spain national team, who beat England in the Final of the Women’s World Cup in August.
She said: “We all know the issues around the Spain team at the moment and it really hurts me as a coach, as a mother of two daughters, as a wife and as a human being.
“The game has grown so much but there’s also still a long way to go in women’s football and in society. And I would like to dedicate this award to the Spanish team, who played such good football. This team deserves to be celebrated and listened to.”
Spain’s women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda came second with 163 points, while FC Barcelona coach Jonatan Giráldez was third with 139 points.
Manchester City FC’s head coach Pep Guardiola was voted the 2022/23 UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year. The Spanish coach, who guided his team to its first UEFA Champions League title, alongside Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup triumphs, collected a total of 602 points in a special poll featuring coaches and journalists.
SSC Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti came second with 252 points, while FC Internazionale Milano’s head coach Simone Inzaghi was third with 84 points.
Spain and FC Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí has been crowned the 2022/23 UEFA Women’s Player of the Year.
The Spanish international was a pillar in her club’s victorious UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign last season and made a remarkable and effective contribution to her national team’s victory at the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Speaking upon receiving her award, she said: “I can say this is my best year since I’ve been a professional football player. I’ve been growing a lot these past years with Barcelona and the national team.
“I don’t have any words for this year. Winning the Champions League, winning the World Cup, and also growing as a footballer, it means a lot to me and this year will remain in my heart forever.”
Making it a Manchester City double, Erling Haaland was named the 2022/23 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year. The record-breaking Norwegian goalscorer last season became both the youngest and the fastest player to score 35 Champions League goals, driving his club to its first UEFA Champions League title in Istanbul in June.
Finally, during the awards ceremony in Monaco, one of the world’s greatest goalscorers with illustrious performances at both German national team and club level, Miroslav Klose, was presented with the 2023 UEFA President’s Award by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin for his outstanding career and services to football both on and off the pitch.
Image: (L-R) Erling Haaland of Manchester City, Aitana Bonmati of FC Barcelona, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, Head Coach Sarina Wiegman and former German player Miroslav Klose pose for a picture during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Group Stage Draw at Grimaldi Forum on August 31, 2023 in Monaco (Photo by Valerio Pennicino – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images).
