Ballon d’Or 2026 Coach of the Year: Five Nominees Revealed — But Who Is Most Likely to Win?

The 2026 Ballon d’Or Coach of the Year race has been reduced to five names — and there is already a clear divide over who deserves to take home one of the biggest individual coaching prizes in football.

Luis Enrique, Luis de la Fuente, Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Vincent Kompany have all been shortlisted for the award, with four of the five nominees coming from Spain.

The shortlist reflects an extraordinary 2025/26 campaign in which domestic dominance, European success and international glory all produced compelling coaching cases. But while every nominee has a credible argument, Luis Enrique appears to have the strongest overall claim heading into the October ceremony.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London on October 26. 

Luis Enrique: The man with the strongest trophy argument

If the award is ultimately decided by the coach whose team achieved the biggest combination of success, Luis Enrique is difficult to ignore.

The Paris Saint-Germain manager guided the French giants through another remarkable campaign, building on the European success that had already established his side among the continent's elite.

PSG's achievement at the highest level gives Enrique an enormous advantage in this race. His tactical authority, ability to manage a squad packed with elite talent and consistency in the biggest matches have made him one of the defining coaches of the current era.

The strongest argument in Enrique's favour is simple: when the biggest trophies were on the line, his team delivered.

That matters enormously in an award which recognises coaching excellence across an entire season.

Enrique also has something few of his rivals can match — recent experience of winning this particular award. He claimed the men's coaching prize in 2025, meaning another victory would see him establish himself as the dominant coach of the Ballon d'Or era.

Current reporting has placed him among the leading candidates to retain the award.

Sevens Sports Arena verdict: Favourite.

Luis de la Fuente: The World Cup winner who can change everything

If there is one coach capable of overturning Enrique's advantage, it is Luis de la Fuente.

The Spain manager's case is built around the biggest achievement available to an international coach: winning the World Cup.

Spain's tournament campaign gave de la Fuente a defining achievement on the biggest stage. His side reportedly conceded only once throughout the tournament, underlining the tactical organisation and defensive control that characterised their run.

And this is where the race becomes particularly interesting.

Enrique can point to sustained club success and European trophies. De la Fuente can point to international glory, a prize that comes around only once every four years.

There is also a natural narrative surrounding his candidacy. Spain have developed into one of the world's most sophisticated international sides, combining technical quality with tactical discipline and control.

If voters place extraordinary weight on the World Cup, de la Fuente could leapfrog every rival.

Sevens Sports Arena verdict: Biggest threat to Enrique.

Mikel Arteta finally has the trophies to back his revolution

For years, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal project was judged on potential.

In 2025/26, that potential finally became silverware.

Arteta ended Arsenal's long wait for the Premier League title, completing one of the most significant chapters of his tenure. He also guided the Gunners to the Champions League final, turning Arsenal from an improving domestic side into a genuine force at the top of European football.

That gives Arteta arguably the strongest club-building narrative on the shortlist.

His case is not based on one spectacular tournament. It is based on the culmination of years of tactical development, recruitment, squad evolution and structural improvement.

The Premier League title is the centrepiece.

The Champions League run strengthens it.

But the difficulty for Arteta is that his rivals can point to even more extraordinary individual achievements.

A league title and Champions League final is an exceptional season. A World Cup triumph or another European title could still carry greater weight with voters.

Sevens Sports Arena verdict: Serious contender, but not the favourite.

Unai Emery: The specialist who keeps delivering

Unai Emery's nomination is perhaps the most understated of the five.

The Aston Villa manager has continued to build a side capable of competing at the highest level while maintaining the tactical identity that has defined his career.

His biggest achievement of the season was another Europa League triumph, adding yet another major European honour to an already extraordinary continental record.

Emery's case is strengthened by the fact that his success has not come at a club with the same financial or squad resources as some of his competitors.

But that may not be enough.

The Coach of the Year race is filled with extraordinary achievements this time around, and Emery's European success faces direct competition from coaches who won even bigger prizes.

Vincent Kompany: From doubted appointment to German champion

Vincent Kompany's inclusion represents another fascinating coaching story.

When the Belgian took over at Bayern Munich, questions remained over whether a relatively young coach could handle the expectations of one of Europe's biggest clubs.

Those doubts have rapidly disappeared.

Kompany guided Bayern to another Bundesliga title and pushed the club deep into the Champions League, reaching the semi-finals. His work has demonstrated that his possession-based and aggressive approach can translate to the highest level.

Winning the Bundesliga with Bayern is never insignificant, particularly when maintaining the standards expected at a club where domestic success is almost mandatory.

However, Kompany faces the same problem as Emery: the achievements of his competitors are difficult to beat.

So, who is most likely to win?

There are convincing arguments for all five, but the race appears to have narrowed to Luis Enrique and Luis de la Fuente.

De la Fuente has the strongest single achievement because he won the World Cup.

Arteta has perhaps the strongest long-term club transformation story.

Kompany has proved himself at one of Europe's most demanding clubs.

Emery has once again demonstrated his extraordinary European pedigree.

But Luis Enrique has the most complete trophy case.

His PSG side combined domestic success with another historic European campaign, while his tactical influence has remained central to the club's transformation into a consistent continental powerhouse.

That combination could prove decisive.

Sevens Sports Arena prediction

🥇 Luis Enrique — Favourite

🥈 Luis de la Fuente — Closest challenger

🥉 Mikel Arteta — Strong outside contender

4️⃣ Vincent Kompany — Dark horse

5️⃣ Unai Emery — Outsider

The biggest question is whether voters will prioritise the World Cup's unique prestige or sustained European dominance.

If the World Cup is the deciding factor, de la Fuente could take the prize.

If the award rewards the coach who produced the strongest overall club season, Luis Enrique has the edge.

For now, the Sevens Sports Arena verdict is clear: Luis Enrique starts as the man to beat — but Luis de la Fuente has the one trophy capable of changing the entire conversation.