Zurich, Jan 7: Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola was joined by the coach who beat him in the 2021 Champions League final, Thomas Tuchel of Chelsea, on the FIFA shortlist to be named best in the world.
Guardiola won his third Premier League title at Man City last season though the European title has eluded the club.
The shortlist of three candidates for the FIFA coaching award in men’s football was completed by Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to the European Championship title.
Cristiano Ronaldo was left off the three-man shortlist Friday for FIFA’s best player award for 2021, with Mohamed Salah on it instead.
Six-time FIFA award winner Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski are also candidates to win the award on January 17. Lewandowski won last year ahead of Ronaldo and Messi.
Voting was done by national team coaches and captains, specialist media and fans making their choices on FIFA’s website. They selected from a longer list of players proposed by FIFA-appointed panels. (AP)
