FIFA announced three candidates for the World Coach of the Year Award.

The Ballon d’Or hullabaloo aside, FIFA has also released the official list of the last three candidates for the World Coach of the Year award. The list includes the once-unpopular Jorge Sampaoli of Chile, Pep Guardiola of Bayern Munich and Luis Enrique Martinez of FC Barcelona. Here is a review of the achievements of the three master tacticians, why they deserve to be on the list, and other two coaches who also deserve special awards. 

Jorge Sampaoli 

Sampaoli took charge of Chile in late 2012 and led them to their first ever Copa America title last July. The 55-year-old tactician was also the head coach of various clubs in South America, including Emelec, O’Higgins and Universisdad de Chile. Interestingly, Sampaoli beat his native country Argentine in the finals of the Copa America tournament on post-match penalties.

Jorge Sampaoli celebrates after winning Copa America

The win aside, it was Chile’s impressive display throughout the tournament that earned the little-known tactician heaps of praise. Chile had only conceded a goal in their last three matches in the knockout stages. The defending champions also had one of the most solid defensive units in the tournament and the most aggressive attacking force led by the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas, who was the tournament’s top scorer. 

Pep Guardiola 

The famous Pep Guardiola is no stranger to awards and honors. He amazingly led his new club Bayern Munich to win the Bundesliga in the 2014/2015 season. That aside, the Spaniard also helped the Bavarians reach the semi-finals of the Champions League tournament the same season.

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola

Despite the amazing achievement, Pep doesn’t seem to set his foot off the pedal anytime soon. He has since guided the Bundesliga giants to 10 consecutive league wins in their last 10 outings, and are currently sitting at the top of the domestic league with seven points adrift second-placed Dortmund. With the domestic title almost wrapped up by the unstoppable Pep, his eyes are now fixed on the Champions League with the major aim of proceeding past the semi-finals, and eventually lifting the trophy this season.

Luis Enrique Martinez

Enrique appears on this list because of his successful 2014/2015 season as Barca manager. Before that, Guardiola had managed to steer Barca to a treble in the 2008/2009 season, having bagged both the Champions League, La Liga and the Copa Del Rey.

Luis Enrique celebrates winning Champions League with Barca

During Enrique’s reign in the 2014/2015 season, Barca won the Copa Del Rey after beating Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou, La Liga title after beating Atletico Madrid, and the UEFA Champions League after dismissing Italian giants Juventus in Berlin.

Laurent Blanc

The PSG manager helped his club win almost every available trophy in France last season. The French giants, under Blanc’s tutelage, won the French Super Cup after beating Guingamp 2-0, the League Cup after a 4-0 victory over Bastia, the French Cup by dismissing second division club Auxerre 1-0 in the finals. He then wrapped it up with the coveted Ligue 1 title with eight points clear of second-placed Lyon. 

Blanc celebrates PSG win

Massimiliano Allegri

One of Allegri’s greatest achievement at Juventus was leading them to their first ever UEFA Champions League finals in 12 years. Although they lost to favorites Barcelona, the Italian manager reinstated La Madama to the league of football’s greatest teams.

Allegri celebrates winning Serie A with Juventus

Despite losing to Barca in the finals of the UCL, Allegri ensured that the Old Lady won the Serie A and Coppa Italia. Even though his achievements cannot be compared to what Laurent Blanc has achieved with PSG, the fact that Allegri managed to awaken a sleeping giant and terrorize top European teams such as Real Madrid and Dortmund is a commendable achievement worth a prestigious award.