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The UEFA, the governing body of football in all of Europe, has announced its list of nominations for the UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year 2022-23. England’s famous coach, Sarina Wiegman, is a favourite to win the award, along with Spain’s Jorge Vilda and Jonatan Giráldez. If the England coach wins the award again, this will be her second consecutive accolade, after leading England to the Euro title last year.
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The UEFA technical observers presented a preliminary shortlist of managers based on their performances during the 2022–23 season at the club and/or national team levels. A panel of the head coaches of the clubs competing in the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage and the head coaches of the women's national teams of UEFA's member associations chose the top three nominations. The panel also included a group of journalists, chosen by European Sports Media (ESM).
Le t’s have a look at the top 3 candidates:
Jorge Vilda:
In the recently concluded World Cup final, Vilda's Spain defeated Wiegman's England 1-0. However, due to former Spanish FA (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales' unprofessional actions during halftime celebrations, the victory has been marred by controversy. Vilda also had complaints from 15 players last summer over mistreatment and inappropriate behaviour, but he was able to keep his job thanks to Rubiales' backing when Spain won the world championship last weekend.
Sarina Wiegman:
Wiegman had coached the Netherlands to victories in the UEFA Women's EURO in 2017 and the World Cup final in 2019 before accepting the England position in 2021. She replicated the feat in Australia and New Zealand this summer after overseeing England's victory as hosts of the EURO 2022 competition, only to lose to Spain in the championship game.
Four members of the starting lineup for each EURO match were absent from the World Cup due to illness or retirement, and Wiegman also had to contend with Keira Walsh's knee issue and Lauren James' red card ban. She became the first coach to guide two countries to a World Cup final. It is also being reported that she may go on to become the head coach of the Men’s English Team shortly.
Jonatan Giráldez:
After Barcelona won the 2020–21 UEFA Women's Champions League, Giráldez was promoted from assistant coach to head coach. Giráldez oversaw a domestic treble but lost the European championship to Lyon in the final in his first season. However, they swept another Liga title last season before recapturing the Champions League crown by defeating Wolfsburg 3-2 in the championship game after coming back from a 2-0 halftime deficit. Giráldez had won his first 57 Liga matches as head coach when his team lost two of its final three games in 2022/23, with the title already locked up and the Champions League final looming.
