Luis de la Fuente named world’s best coach at Ballon d’Or ceremony

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has been named the world’s best coach at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.

De la Fuente, who received the award on Monday, was shortlisted alongside Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery and Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany.

His leadership of Spain to the 2026 World Cup title was the decisive factor behind the award. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final, played on 19 July, to claim the tournament.

Spain went through the competition unbeaten and conceded only one goal. Their campaign demonstrated a balance of defensive strength and effectiveness in decisive matches, as De la Fuente’s side secured victories when the stakes were highest.

Mubarak Haruna

Mubarak Haruna is an emerging force in African football journalism, recognised for his speed, accuracy and ability to break major stories. He specialises in breaking news, match coverage and multimedia storytelling across radio, television and digital platforms.He holds a degree in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism and has developed his craft within some of Ghana’s leading media organisations. Mubarak has worked with the Multimedia Group, where he served as a sports radio and television presenter at Joy FM, while also contributing as a writer for Myjoyonline.com.Known for his sharp instincts and ability to deliver timely football stories, Mubarak has gained growing recognition for his impactful reporting and dedication to the profession.He is currently the Deputy Managing Editor of African.Football, where he plays a key role in driving editorial operations, breaking major stories and supporting the platform’s mission to deliver fast, reliable and high-quality African football content to a global audience.

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