FIFA Best Managers 2021: Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes react to winning coaching awards

It proved to be a Chelsea double in the managerial category at the annual FIFA awards after Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes were each crowned the ‘Best Coach of the Year 2021’.

Hayes scooped the women’s coaching award following a stellar 2021 during which her Chelsea Women’s side won the WSL, FA Cup, and League Cup treble - losing only once in the league - while they enjoyed a memorable run through to the Champions League final.

Hayes, who beat England manager Sarina Wiegman and ex-Barcelona boss Lluis Cortes to win the accolade, couldn’t hide her surprise.

"Wow. Honestly I'm not usually stunned. Completely shocked. The doorbell just rang and I had to hit the mute button!

“I put this down to the players, the fantastic people that represent my work. Ultimately the coach is only as good as the people they have around them. I have got brilliant people at Chelsea that have helped support the team to (bring us to) the place we are at. I’m actually shocked right now.”

Hayes is now gunning to win a fifth WSL title with her side currently in 2nd spot, five points behind leaders Arsenal but with a game in hand. They face West Ham in a League Cup quarter-final on Wednesday, and Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round at the end of the month, however they’ll have to wait another season to try and win the Champions League.

Over in the men’s category Thomas Tuchel came out on top ahead of Man City’s Pep Guardiola and Italy’s Roberto Mancini.

Sacked at PSG on Christmas Eve (2020), Tuchel made a swift return to management with Chelsea in January (2021) where he replaced Frank Lampard. The German took the Blues from 9th to 4th, reached an FA Cup final, then outwitted Guardiola to win the Champions League.

"It was a pretty normal day so far, I’m at the training centre, I've just come from training because we have a game tomorrow, but now you opened my envelope and said my name, so it's pretty surreal and I'm overwhelmed,” Tuchel said after winning the award. “I feel a little bit uncomfortable, actually. 

“I enjoy the journey and I enjoy the club. At the moment, it’s a good fit. The company is so good and I’m grateful to have so many supportive people around me and feel so good at such a competitive club. We've lost a bit of ground to Manchester City in the league but in any other competitions, we still follow our goals. We try to be the best version of ourselves and try to compete on the highest level."

Chelsea, who face Lille in the last-16, are priced at 8/1 to retain the Champions League trophy this season. Tuchel’s men, the 10/11 favourites, have a League Cup final to look forward to against either Liverpool or Arsenal, while they can be backed at 6/1 to win the FA Cup.