The award is given to the best manager in the world based on individual and team achievements, as well as exhibiting class and fair play. The coach’s success is leading their team to victories, trophies and overall positive results throughout the season. The coach’s impact on their team's performance includes tactical decisions, player development, and leadership qualities.
The trophy is named after Johan Cruyff in recognition of his exceptional coaching impact on the game through his tactical vision, results and leadership.
Cruyff's impact on the sport extended beyond his achievements. He was a key figure in developing "Total Football," a tactical philosophy revolutionising the game. As a player, he won the Ballon d'Or three times (1971, 1973, 1974) and later became a successful manager, further solidifying his legacy. His tactical innovations and focus on attacking, possession-based football continue to influence today's game.
Previous winners include Emma Hayes, who won it last year when she guided the US national team to Olympic gold.
Sonia Bompastor- Chelsea
As the only person ever to win the Champions League as a player and a manager, there were high expectations in her first season at Chelsea. She was unbeaten in the WSL and only lost in the Champions League, leading Chelsea to the domestic treble.
Her introduction to Chelsea sparked an unprecedented undefeated domestic run, establishing her as a powerful new force in club coaching. The club also backed her when she wanted to spend big and bring in players. Plus, she succeeded in the WSL as a female manager, showing other clubs the importance of female managers.
Arthur Elias - Brazil
He helped Brazil's ninth Copa America, only Argentina have won it other than Brazil, and he helped them win its it in such a dramatic way on penalties against Colombia after coming from behind to end win its ninth Copa America, the only other country to have won it besides Brazil, and he helped them win it in such a dramatic way on penalties against Colombia after coming from behind to end the game 4-4 to then go to penalties—the 61-year-old Nigerian tactician who led the Super Falcons to the African championship title. He has guided to their 10th title win out of 13 editions they have always at leats made it to the semi-finals stage in every competition they have played.
He won best coach of the 2024 WAFCON.
Justine Madugu delivered tactical mastery and resilience, engineering a thrilling comeback triumph for Nigeria in the WAFCON.
Renee Slegers- Arsenal
She was the interim manager for Arsenal for a while before they made her permanent as previously when the club made the interim the permanent manager it all went wrong. She is the expection to the rule while she failed in England she succeeded massively in Europe winning the Womens Champions League beating Barcelona in the final to earn her spot on this list.
Renée Slegers took Arsenal from domestic competition to European glory in record time—underscoring her tactical acumen and leadership.
She also has the club finally spending the big bucks on new signings like Olivia Smith.
Sarina Wiegman- England
Wiegman has tough competition but as she likes to remind everyone she has little time with her players to make a huge impact and a huge impact she did. She has now gone to every final in every competition she’s ever managed. No other manager in either the men’s or women’s game has gone to five consecutive finals. She has won back-to-back-to-back euros final and will hold the trophy for 12 years.
Sarina Wiegman has not only maintained England’s dominant trajectory but extended historic consistency, leading them to multiple successive major finals.
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