Luciano Spalletti is on the list for the Coach of the Year. The Italian joins a list that includes Pep Guardiola and fellow Italian Simeone Inzaghi.
Who would you pick as the coach of the year?
It has been a momentous season filled with drama and excitement. With the season behind us, we edge closer to awards for the various performances. Many teams, players and managers excelled during the season and gave us plenty to cheer, yet we have to separate them. We have to rate them and choose who the best was.
The best is self-explanatory. The person who wins should be the best. However, in the world today, it is not that easy. The metrics for choosing the best are perhaps convoluted, and one has to look at the finer details. With different winners on the list, who should be declared the Coach of the Year?
Coach of the Year – the nominees
UEFA has announced the nominees for its Coach of the Year award. The list includes former Napoli manager – Luciano Spalletti, Manchester City and Inter Milan coaches Pep Guardiola and Simeone Inzaghi.
All three managers had seasons to remember winning titles that put them in the pantheon of greats. Let us review their performances and help choose a likely winner.
Luciano Spalletti
The Italian manager led Napoli to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history. The Partenopei got knocked out by Serie A side AC Milan. The Neapolitans had a fantastic run under Luciano Spalletti.
With players like Victor Osimhen, Giacomo Raspadori, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Giovanni Simeone, and Kim Min-Jae, Spalletti was able to return Napoli to the front burner of European football.
Under Spalletti, Napoli defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 5–0 on aggregate to advance to the UEFA Champions League Quarter-finals for the first time in the club's history.
On 4 May, Spalletti led Napoli to win their 3rd Serie A title, 33 years after their last conquest.
Simeone Inzaghi
Unlike Luciano Spalletti, Inzaghi has not won the league in his two seasons at AC Milan. The former Lazio manager always tries to get the most out of his players. He prefers the 3-5-2 formation with wing-backs that like to get forward and join the attacking play.
Simeone led Inter to the final of the Champions League, where they impressed, making the favourites Manchester City look ordinary. Perhaps with a bit of luck, they could have nicked the title.
However, Inter Milan were inconsistent in the league. He did win the Supercoppa Italiana and successfully defended their Coppa Italia title.
Pep Guardiola
Guardiola was imperial last season but had Arsenal to thank for part of his achievements. The Gunners lost their marbles and let a healthy lead in the league slip, allowing Manchester City to nick the Premier League with a game to spare.
Guardiola led Manchester City to a momentous treble. They won the English Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League with a fortunate 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the final. Recently, Pep won the UEFA Super Cup after a penalty shootout win over Sevilla. Pep is worthy of the UEFA Coach of the Year.
Who wins the UEFA Coach of the Year?
It is hard to separate these managers, as their achievements are laudable. While many would say Luciano Spalletti did the unthinkable, so did Guardiola. It becomes a question of weight and value.
Luciano Spalletti won for Napoli a title that has eluded them for 33 years, while Pep finally won the trophy Man City craved.
Many would argue that with the budget at the disposal of Pep Guardiola, it is easier to win, as Luciano Spalletti had a modest budget.
However you spin it, the eventual winner would be worthy of the UEFA Coach of the Year.
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 months ago
