The manager of the French team Paris Saint-Germain, Spaniard Luis Enrique, was crowned the best coach in the world by the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), during the “The Best 2025” awards ceremony held in the Qatari capital, Doha, today (Tuesday), amidst the presence of an elite group of global football legends.
This well-deserved triumph caps an exceptional season for the Spanish coach, who led Paris Saint-Germain to their long-awaited dream of winning the Champions League title for the first time in the club's history. The victory was anything but ordinary; it came in the form of a resounding and historic 5-0 win against Inter Milan in the final, a testament to the significant technical superiority and strong character that Enrique instilled in the team.
absolute local dominance
Enrique wasn't content with European glory; the Parisian giants also established complete dominance in French domestic competitions, achieving a historic treble (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophée des Champions). This achievement confirmed the team's absolute supremacy on the French scene and demonstrated the coach's ability to rotate players and maintain competitive intensity throughout the season across all competitions.
The end of the Champions League curse and a tactical imprint
This achievement marks a pivotal turning point in Paris Saint-Germain's history, as the club had suffered for years from a knockout stage curse in the Champions League despite massive investments and the presence of former world-class stars. Luis Enrique, thanks to his extensive experience gained previously with Barcelona and the Spanish national team, succeeded in building a cohesive team system that transcended individual reliance, making the team more solid and effective in major competitions.
Global impact at the Club World Cup
Globally, Luis Enrique's team continued to deliver outstanding performances, securing second place in the revamped 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, held in the United States. Despite missing out on the title, reaching the final solidified the club's status as a major force in world football.
Voting and eligibility mechanism
The award was decided by FIFA's established criteria, which include votes from coaches and captains of men's national teams worldwide, a select group of sports journalists, and a public vote via FIFA's official website. Voters unanimously agreed that Enrique deserved the award due to the significant improvement he had brought to the French champions' performance.
