FIFA announces shortlist for 2021 Women’s Coach of the Year

FIFA announced Thursday the shortlist for the best FIFA Women’s Coach of 2021 with Lluís Cortes, Emma Hayes and Sarina Wiegman making the cut.

Leaders on and off the pitch. 🤝 The shortlist for #TheBest FIFA Women’s Coach 2021.

Who will be victorious? 🏆
@Llcortes14 🇪🇸 @emmahayes1 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿@wiegman_s 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/XVZDTNi1gn

— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) January 6, 2022

Given to the most outstanding coach in women’s soccer, the award is voted on by a panel comprised of the current coaches and captains of all women’s national teams, one journalist from each territory represented by a national team, and fans.

Cortes was named head coach of the Ukrainian national team in November 2021 after leading Barcelona to a historic treble. Under Cortes’ tutelage, Barcelona won the league, cup and the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the first time in club history. In recognition, Cortes was named UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year for 2020-21.

Hayes was named to the shortlist after leading Chelsea to the FA Women’s Super League title and the club’s first-ever appearance in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. She was recently named FA WSL Manager of the Season for 2020-21.

The fifth nomination for Wiegman, she has won the award twice. Named head coach of England’s women’s national team in September 2021, she previously helped the Netherlands to the quarterfinals of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

The winner of the award will be announced on January 17.