Chelsea Sweep up FIFA’s The Best Awards 2021

Thomas Tuchel has won The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award for 2021 after a superb year at Chelsea.

The German tactician beat Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Italy manager Roberto Mancini to the award.

But Tuchel has been named the winner in large part due to Chelsea’s Champions League success at the end of the 2020/21 season, ousting Guardiola’s City in the final in Porto.

Tuchel arrived at Stamford Bridge with the club’s status as a top-four club in doubt, but he made immediate improvements to the side as Chelsea quickly became known as a defensive powerhouse.

The Blues ended up finishing in a top-four spot in the Premier League and Tuchel managed to win the Champions League having lost the final with PSG a year prior.

Things haven’t been as rosey recently for Chelsea, who have had to deal with a number of injuries and Covid-related absences. Despite reaching the Carabao Cup final, they are now 13 points behind Man City in the Premier League title race.

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has won The Best FIFA Women’s Coach award for 2021.

Hayes beat Lluis Cortes of Barcelona and England head coach Sarina Wiegman to the award.

“Oh my goodness, I’m so shocked!” Hayes said via a video call at FIFA’s ceremony in Zurich.

“Honestly, I’m not usually stunned, but I’m completely shocked. I put it down to the players, the fantastic people that represent my work, and ultimately the coach is only as good as the people they have around them and I have brilliant people at Chelsea. I’m absolutely shocked right now.”

Hayes’ Chelsea won the 2020/21 Women’s Super League as well as reaching the final of the Champions League for the first time, while they also won last season’s FA Cup last month.

Senegal stopper Edouard Mendy also scooped up the FIFA’s The Best Goalkeeper award for 2021.

Mendy enjoyed a successful debut season at Stamford Bridge following his arrival from Rennes in 2020, cementing his place as one of the world’s best goalkeepers and playing a huge role in their Champions League triumph – keeping a record nine clean sheets on the Blues’ way to victory in Porto.

He ousted stiff competition from Gianluigi Donnarumma – who helped Italy win Euro 2020 in the summer before a high-profile move to PSG – and Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer to win the award.

Mendy arrived at Chelsea and immediately became their first-choice goalkeeper, usurping Kepa Arrizabalaga between the Stamford Bridge sticks.

He’s made 70 appearances and has played a key role in Chelsea’s progression to the top of Europe under Thomas Tuchel.