Ranieri and Coleman take on super-coaches for FIFA title

Zurich (AFP) – Leicester’s Claudio Ranieri and Wales boss Chris Coleman are on a FIFA shortlist for coach of the year against the managers of Europe’s major club and international sides.

Fernando Santos, who guided Portugal to their upset victory over France in the Euro 2016 final, also makes the 10-man list released ahead of the start of voting on Friday.

Ranieri, Coleman and Santos could not have expected at the start of the year to be taking on super-coaches such as Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, Barcelona’s Luis Enrique or Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp for the best coach gong.

But their feats in making Leicester the English champions, taking Wales to the Euro semi-finals and Portugal to their first Euro triumph have made the trio outstanding candidates.

France coach Didier Deschamps, Tottenham Hotspur’s Mauricio Pochettino, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone and Real Madrid’s Champions League winner Zinedine Zidane make up the list.

Initial voting will end on November 22 with 50 percent of the decision based on a public poll and 50 percent on captains and coaches of national teams. 

A final three will be announced on December 2 and FIFA will unveil the winner on January 9.