The shortlist is in: Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino are in line for the world’s top individual prize for managers. Of course, we all know that Klopp deserves the FIFA Best Coach Award.
The German led his team to a Champions League title in June, the culmination of an historic European campaign. Liverpool’s continental success followed one of the greatest title races of all time, with Jürgen and his men somehow missing out on glory despite amassing 97 points and losing just once.
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Pochettino had a season to remember in North London, defying all the odds to reach the Champions League final in Madrid despite making no summer signings. The Tottenham boss was tactically on point throughout the tournament, dumping out the exuberant Borussia Dortmund and snatching victory from the jaws of defeat away to Ajax.
Guardiola did what City do, he spent a lot of money and won a lot of trophies.
Klopp deserves to win the best coach award because he managed to win club football’s top prize in incredible fashion. Jurgen masterminded the competitions greatest ever comeback, overturning a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona. And he did it all on a relative shoestring.
Klopp’s net spend at Liverpool is £67.25m according to the AnfieldOnline tracker while Guardiola’s is €627m according to Mint. With these figures in mind: Liverpool winning the Champions League and finishing just a point behind Guardiola’s GloboGym-esque squad is incredible. The Liverpool gaffer deserves all the plaudits for his achievements.