The three finalists for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach Award 2022 have been revealed, with Sonia Bompastor, Pia Sundhage, and Sarina Wiegman in the running for this prestigious prize.
The accolade recognises outstanding coaching performances in the women’s game from the period between 7 August 2021 and 31 July 2022. The winner will be announced at a Paris ceremony on 27 February 2023.
Six candidates were initially nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach award, having been chosen by a panel of experts.
From this shortlist, the three finalists have been selected by an international jury comprising four groups: women’s national team coaches, women’s national team captains, women’s football journalists, and fans who voted on FIFA’s official website.
Sonia Bompastor
Country of Origin: France
Age: 42
Current team: Lyon Women
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Bompastor cemented her status as an all-time Lyon great by leading the club to a French league title and UEFA Women’s Champions League double in her first full season as manager.
The former France international defender, a two-time European champion as a player with Lyon, took the reins in April 2021 after eight years as the club’s academy director.
Her maiden campaign as manager was extraordinary, even by Lyon’s sky-high standards. Lyon won 21 and drew one of their 22 domestic league matches to wrestle the Division 1 Feminine championship back from Paris St Germain.
Lyon also saw off PSG in a breathless Champions League last-four tie, before producing a stunning all-round performance in the final against Barcelona. Bompastor’s team overwhelmed the Catalans with an exhilarating display of attacking football in Turin, racing into a 3-0 lead within the opening 33 minutes.
Barça, who were aiming to defend the title they won in 2021, pulled a goal back but Lyon mixed tactical discipline with technical excellence to record a deserved victory.
Pia Sundhage
Country of Origin: Sweden
Age: 62
Current team: Brazil Women
The experienced Swede guided Brazil to Copa America Feminina glory in 2022, with her side producing a series of dominant performances during the tournament.
Under Sundhage’s management, Brazil have become a team equally capable of playing enterprising free-flowing football or showing determination and resolve to see out hard-fought victories.
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They scored 20 goals across their six matches at the Copa America, with their attacking prowess memorably exhibited in a 4-0 group-stage win over fierce rivals Argentina.
Remarkably, Brazil did not concede once at the tournament and their defensive solidity was highlighted in a tense final against host nation Colombia.
Brazil won 1-0 in front of a partisan Cali crowd, displaying courage and character to withstand consistent Colombian pressure. The victory represented another significant milestone in Sundhage’s impressive managerial career.
During her four years in charge of USA’s national team, she led the nation to Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012 and to a runners-up finish at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Sarah Wiegman
Country of Origin: Netherlands
Age: 53
Current team: England Women
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The Dutch coach wrote her name into English football folklore by leading the Lionesses to a maiden major tournament victory at the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.
Wiegman, who masterminded the Netherlands’ EURO triumph in 2017, implemented a dynamic style of play which allowed England’s wealth of exciting talents to flourish.
The Lionesses scored 22 goals across their six matches at the tournament and conceded just twice. When they weren’t sweeping aside opponents with their vibrant attacking play, England dug deep to secure extra-time victories over Spain in the quarter-finals and Germany in the final.
Wiegman boasts a sensational overall record since taking on the role as England manager in 2021. The Lionesses remain unbeaten under her stewardship, having won 22 and drawn four of her 26 matches in charge.
Wiegman is vying to win The Best FIFA Women’s Coach Award for a third time, having taken home the prize in 2017 and 2020.
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