The Ballon d'Or has announced its best coaches from last season, with Luis de la Fuente and Pere Romeu taking home the prestigious Johan Cruyff Trophy. The ceremony, held at the London Palladium theater, was attended by Rafa Benítez, who presented the awards to both technicians. De la Fuente, who led the Spanish National Team to victory in the 2022 World Cup, became the successor to Luis Enrique, who had won the award the previous season after leading Paris Saint-Germain to its first Champions League. In 2024, the title had been claimed by Carlo Ancelotti after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid.
For his part, Pere Romeu became the first Barcelona coach to receive an individual recognition of this magnitude. Unlike his predecessors, such as Lluís Cortés and Jonatan Giráldez, who did not obtain awards despite winning the Champions League, Romeu managed to stand out in the voting. This victory marks the third time that the Ballon d'Or awards the Best Coach award in the women's category. In 2024, the award went to Emma Hayes, Chelsea coach, who beat Giráldez and Sarina Wiegman. Hayes, who now coaches the United States National Team, left her time in London after closing her career as Chelsea coach.
Sarina Wiegman, born in the Netherlands and current England coach, was the winner of the award in 2025 after leading her team to the European Championship. His track record includes five The Best awards, underscoring his consistency and success over the years. Wiegman's recognition reinforces the presence of female coaches in the elite of world football, along with Romeu's recent victory and Luis de la Fuente's continued influence on the international stage.
With these results, the football landscape continues to show the importance of tactical management and leadership ability in national and club teams. Award-winning coaches have demonstrated that the combination of experience, results in international tournaments and the ability to motivate their players are key factors in achieving success. Next season promises new surprises, as the winners of the Ballon d'Or and the Johan Cruyff Trophy will continue to be references for future generations of coaches in both genders.