FIFA Best Awards: Fired Spain coach Jorge Vilda ignored, Jenni Hermoso nominated
Spain's Women's World Cup winning coach Jorge Vilda was left off the short-list of nominees for the annual FIFA awards announced Thursday, a week after he was fired following a global uproar in the wake of the final.
Vilda was not among five candidates for the Best Women's Coach Award for 2023, which did include England coach Sarina Wiegman, whose team lost the final to Spain. The candidates were picked by a FIFA-appointed expert panel that included United States great Mia Hamm.
Spain forward Jenni Hermoso, who was kissed by now-disgraced and ousted Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales after the final, is one of four Spain players who are among the 16 candidates for the women's player of the year award.
Rubiales is being investigated for sexual assault.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are competing with six Champions League winners from Manchester City and four others for the Best Men's Player Award. Messi won last year's award after leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title.
Voting will be done by national team captains and coaches, selected journalists plus fans through an online poll through Oct.
6. No date has been announced for the awards ceremony.
Manchester City's Pep Guardiola is the likely favorite among five candidates for the men's coaching award.
Vilda stayed on as Spain coach through the Women's World Cup after Rubiales helped him weather a rebellion one year ago by 15 players dissatisfied with his leadership.
