The tremendous year with City has placed Guardiola back in the Top.

After an extraordinary year with Manchester City, the coach received the distinction from the IFFHS. It is the 3rd time he has achieved it.

Champions League. Club World Cup. Premier League. FA Cup. European Super Cup. Manchester City has been the great team of 2023. And that is why it is logical that Pep Guardiola is considered, almost without discussion, the best coach on the planet. This was considered by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), who has consecrated him above Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid.

Guardiola, recognized for his continued success over the years, and after an extraordinary 2023 with Manchester City, clearly stood out in the election, leaving Ancelotti more than 200 points behind. The IFFHS, logistically supported by FIFA, is an entity that grants awards and recognitions independent of those of the highest entity. This does not mean that Pep is the top candidate to receive The Best, on January 15.

This is the third time that Guardiola has received this recognition, previously achieved in 2009 and 2011, when he managed to win the Champions League with his legendary Barcelona. It should be noted that, from 2006 to the present, the IFFHS award has always gone to the Orejona champion, with three exceptions: José Mourinho in 2012, Diego Simeone 2016 and Marcelo Gallardo in 2018.

Luciano Spalletti, Serie A champion with Napoli, completes the coaching podium. They are followed by Simone Inzaghi (4th, with Inter), Fernando Diniz (5th, with Libertadores and Brazil champion Fluminense), Mikel Arteta (6th, with Arsenal), Xavi (7th, with Barcelona) , Ange Postecoglou (8th, with Tottenham), Unai Emery (9th, with Aston Villa) and Jürgen Klopp (10th, with Liverpool)

The surprise lies in the absence of Lionel Scaloni among the ten best coaches in the world. In the 2022 edition, in which the World Cup obtained in Qatar was qualified, the IFFHS decided to reward Ancelotti, who had won the Orejona in Paris. In 2023, the Argentine National Team only played four friendlies and the start of the Qualifiers. Now, in 2024 he will be able to return to the fight if he wins the Copa América again.

Pep Guardiola Julián Álvarez (@fifaworldcup_es)Pep Guardiola Julián Álvarez (@fifaworldcup_es)
The Top 10 best coaches according to the IFFHS
Pep Guardiola (Spain-Manchester City) 281 points.
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy-Real Madrid) 56.
Luciano Spaletti (Italy-Napoli) 53.
Simone Inzaghi (Italy-Inter) 51.
Fernando Diniz (Brazil-Fluminense) 33.
Mikel Arteta (Spain-Arsenal) 30.
Xavi (Spain-Barcelona) 26.
Ange Postecoglou (Australia-Tottenham) 12.
Unai Emery (Spain-Aston Villa) 8.
Jürgen Klopp (Germany-Liverpool) 6.

Source image: Twitter IFHHS.