The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on Monday 28 October at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
The most distinguished annual ceremony in the football calendar has gained further importance upon the recent introduction of the coaches awards, with this year’s ceremony establishing honours for the Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year for the very first time.
Some familiar faces line the list of nominees, as both club and international managers make up the register of distinguished coaches up for the accolade.
Despite not qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games during the summer, England head coach Sarina Wiegman is nominated for the category.
Emma Hayes also received a worthy nomination for her 2023/24 campaign with Chelsea, having led the side to the semi-final stages of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, before winning a fifth consecutive WSL title with the Blues.
Sonia Bompastor is also up for the count after leading Lyon to the Champions League final, where they were narrowly defeated 2-0 by Barcelona in Bilbao. Bompastor also took Lyon to success in the 2023/24 D1F season, before taking on the role of Chelsea head coach over the summer.
Jonatan Giraldez stole the fairytale ending from Bompastor in Bilbao, as his Barcelona side reigned victorious in the Champions League once again thanks to goals from Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas. Giraldez’s Barcelona side also took the domestic sphere by storm, having grabbed silverware in Liga F, the Copa de la Reina and the Supercopa de Espana Femenina.
Brazil national team head coach Arthur Elias has received a nomination after taking up the managerial post in September 2023. Elias led the side to victory at the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup, before taking the Canarinhas to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
Benfica manager Filipa Patao has received her flowers for an exceptional managerial campaign in Portugal, having led the side to a domestic treble across the 2023/24 season. Benfica were victorious in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino, Taca de Portugal and Taca da Liga.
Whilst each of the six nominees are all deserving of their place on the shortlist, there can only be one winner at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
After conquering the WSL once again, Emma Hayes travelled stateside to become head coach of the United States Women’s National Team. She made it look easy at the Olympics, claiming gold. However, Ballon d’Or eligibility only counts for the period between 1 August 2023 and 31 July 2024, meaning her Olympic triumph came just two weeks too late to be considered here.
Sonia Bompastor and Filipa Patao both dominated their respective domestic leagues, but the ultimate plaudit may well be given to Jonatan Giraldez for his major success (again) in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Predicted 2024 Women’s Coach of the Year winner: Jonatan Giraldez
