Sarina Wiegman and Pep Guardiola take best coach prizes at FIFA awards
England boss Sarina Wiegman was named best women’s coach for the second successive year and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola took the men’s prize at The Best FIFA Awards 2023 in London on Monday night.
Dutchwoman Wiegman guided the Lionesses to the World Cup final in Australia, where they were beaten by Spain, having also won Euro 2022 on home soil.
Seven of Wiegman’s England squad made it into the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World XI – goalkeeper Mary Earps, defenders Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood and Keira Walsh, Alessia Russo, Lauren James and Ella Toone.
Players on stage collect the Women
As well as picking up the award last year, Wiegman has also taken the honour in 2017 and 2020, when she was in charge of the Netherlands.
Chelsea head coach Emma Hayes finished second in the vote, ahead of Barcelona’s Jonatan Giraldez.
“I feel very privileged and humbled to be here again,” Wiegman said. “I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in our performances with England.
Sarina Wiegman speaks after receiving the award for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach on stage
“Most of all thanks to the players who have performed so well on the back of the Euros and the World Cup – lots of things were thrown in front of us and we did really well.”
Manchester United goalkeeper Earps also collected the best women’s goalkeeper award for the second year in a row.
Earps finished her acceptance speech with words of encouragement for others.
Mary Earps on stage after receiving the award for The Best Women’s Goalkeeper
“If you are struggling, keep going,” she said. “It is never too late to be who you are – 2023 showed we can change the world if we speak out against injustice, so let’s keep doing that.”
The best women’s player award went to Spain’s World
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