De la Fuente and Romeu win best coach awards

Luis de la Fuente and Pere Romeu won the Johan Cruyff Trophy for best men's and women's coaches; De la Fuente's World Cup win with Spain and Romeu's Barcelona success were decisive.

Luis de la Fuente and Pere Romeu have been named the best men's and women's coaches of the past season, receiving the Johan Cruyff Trophy at London's Palladium theatre, with Rafa Benítez presenting the awards.

De la Fuente, Spain's national team manager, won on the strength of his World Cup victory last summer. He succeeds Luis Enrique, who won last year after delivering Paris Saint-Germain's first Champions League title; Enrique was nominated again this year. Carlo Ancelotti won in 2024 after claiming the Champions League with Real Madrid.

Romeu became the first Barcelona women's coach to win an individual award. Despite their Champions League titles, neither Lluís Cortés nor Jonatan Giráldez received recognition from the Ballon d'Or or The Best. This is the third year the award has honoured the best women's coach; Emma Hayes won in 2024 before moving from Chelsea to manage the United States, while Sarina Wiegman, who won Euro 2024 with England, claimed the 2025 award.