According to "Varzesh 3", Luis de la Fuente, the 65-year-old head coach of the Spanish national football team, is among the five final nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or Men's Coach of the Year award and is competing for the title alongside Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain), Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Unai Emery (Aston Villa), and Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich).
According to a report by Mundo Deportivo, De la Fuente is the primary favorite to win the award at the ceremony to be held next Monday in London. It appears that the Spanish coach is positioned ahead of Luis Enrique, a manager who is considered another contender for the title after leading the Parisians to consecutive UEFA Champions League titles for the second straight season.
De la Fuente will travel to the ceremony with complete optimism, accompanied by Rafael Lozano, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, and a large delegation of federation officials—an event where Spanish football has a strong presence among the nominees.
The nomination of the coach from La Rioja comes after a phenomenal World Cup campaign with the Spain national team, a side that lifted the trophy after a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the July 19 final, finishing the tournament undefeated and conceding only a single goal.
World Cup success has solidified De la Fuente's status as the leading contender, a coach who has forged a highly competitive team and demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the tournament. Spain currently holds the top spot in the FIFA rankings and boasts a record of 43 consecutive official matches without defeat.
Source: Varzesh 3
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