Mikel Arteta has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Men’s Coach of the Year award.
The Arsenal manager has been included on a five-man shortlist for the prestigious prize, with Arteta recognised alongside Spain boss Luis de la Fuente, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany and Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique.
Arteta’s nomination provides further recognition for the work he has done at Arsenal, with the Spaniard continuing to lead the club’s first-team project.
The 44-year-old has been Arsenal manager since December 2019 and has established himself as one of the leading coaches in European football during his time at the Emirates.
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His inclusion means Arsenal have now received multiple nominations in the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards, with the club also shortlisted for the Men’s Club of the Year prize.
Arteta will face strong competition for the individual coaching award.
De la Fuente has been recognised for his work with the Spain national team, while Emery has earned a place on the shortlist after continuing his work with Aston Villa.
Kompany has also been nominated after taking charge of Bayern Munich, with Enrique completing the five-man shortlist following his work with PSG.
The award gives Arteta the opportunity to add another major individual honour to his growing list of recognition since taking over at Arsenal.
The Arsenal boss has previously won the Premier League Manager of the Month award on multiple occasions and was also named The Best FIFA Men’s Coach nominee in 2024.
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His latest nomination comes alongside Arsenal’s own inclusion in the Men’s Club of the Year category, highlighting the recognition being given to the club and its manager at this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Arteta’s nomination will now see him compete against four other high-profile managers, with the winner to be decided as part of the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26, when the winners across the various categories will be announced.
For Arteta, it represents another significant personal milestone and a chance to be crowned the best men’s coach in world football for 2026.
Arsenal - Mikel Arteta
Arsenal - Mikel Arteta
Bruno Guimaraes
Bruno Guimaraes