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LONDON, England — Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has been named the 2026 Men’s Coach of the Year at the Ballon d’Or ceremony after leading his country to FIFA World Cup glory.
The 65-year-old received the Johan Cruyff Trophy at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, capping a remarkable year in which Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final on July 19.
De la Fuente emerged ahead of a strong shortlist that included Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery and Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany.
Spain’s World Cup triumph was secured by Ferran Torres, who scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute to deliver the country’s second men’s World Cup title.
De la Fuente credits Spain’s collective effort
Accepting the award, De la Fuente described the recognition as a major honour and congratulated the other nominees.
He stressed that the achievement belonged to the entire Spanish team rather than one individual, praising his players and coaching staff for their contribution to the country’s success.
The coach’s recognition follows a period of sustained achievement with Spain, having also guided the national team to the UEFA Nations League title in 2023 and the European Championship in 2024.
Spain’s historic World Cup campaign
Spain’s victory in the United States, Canada and Mexico marked another milestone for De la Fuente, who became the oldest coach to win the men’s World Cup at 65 years old.
La Roja conceded just one goal throughout the tournament and defeated Argentina in a tightly contested final, ending Lionel Messi’s hopes of leading the defending champions to another world title.
The award adds another major individual honour to De la Fuente’s growing list of achievements and recognises his role in establishing Spain among the leading forces in international football.
His success also contributed to a strong night for Spanish football at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, with Harry Kane winning the men’s Ballon d’Or and Alexia Putellas claiming the women’s award.
For De la Fuente, however, the coaching award represents more than personal recognition: it is a reflection of the collective work that helped Spain reach the summit of world football.
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