Luis de la Fuente Wins Men’s Ballon d’Or Coach of the Year
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has been named men’s Coach of the Year at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, after leading his country to the World Cup. According to AFP, the award was presented on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the ceremony in London.
Why he won
AFP reports that De la Fuente won the award after masterminding Spain’s World Cup victory. In a tight final against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in New Jersey, his side kept their cool and Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in a 1-0 win. Gulf News says the final was played on July 19.
Morocco World News reports that he received the Johan Cruyff Trophy, and that he succeeds fellow Spaniard Luis Enrique, who won the coaching prize in 2025 with Paris Saint-Germain.
Spain’s coach had earlier been nominated alongside Mikel Arteta of Arsenal, Unai Emery of Aston Villa, Vincent Kompany of Bayern Munich and Luis Enrique, according to DAZN.
What De la Fuente said
AFP quotes him calling the award “recognition for a job very well done over many years.” He also told the news agency that Spanish football, in coaching and in the game itself, is an example of excellent youth development, which paves the way for future success.
Gulf News says that on stage he was quick to share the credit with his players and coaching staff. Its headline quotes him saying “This prize is not an individual prize.”
Career and Spain’s run
Tempo says De la Fuente was appointed head coach of the Spanish national team in December 2022, succeeding Luis Enrique. ANI reports that the award adds to his earlier titles with Spain, including the UEFA Nations League and Euro 2024.
Morocco World News says he is now one of the few coaches to win both the European Championship and the World Cup. Gulf News describes the World Cup as Spain’s second, and puts his age at 65.
ANI and TVC News report that six members of Spain’s world-champion squad, including Lamine Yamal, were among the Ballon d’Or nominees. Wikipedia says Spain have gone 42 consecutive matches without a loss since March 2024, a world record for men’s international football.
Wikipedia adds that, after the 2026 victory, Spain became the first national team to hold the men’s and women’s World Cup titles simultaneously. ANI says the Ballon d’Or’s official X account announced his win shortly after the award was handed out.
Quick timeline:
- December 2022: De la Fuente becomes Spain head coach, per Tempo.
- 2024: Spain win Euro 2024, per ANI.
- July 19, 2026: Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final, per Gulf News.
- October 26, 2026: He wins men’s Coach of the Year.
What happens next
Spain remain world champions, and the sources reviewed do not say what De la Fuente’s plans are for the national team’s next fixtures. Readers should check Spain’s official channels and the Ballon d’Or website for the full list of winners.
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