Sarina Wiegman remains in the running for the Best FIFA Women's Coach of the Year award after the final three were revealed by the games' governing body.
Wiegman, 53, led England to their first ever major tournament last summer when the Lionesses won Euro 2022 on home soil after a 2-1 victory over Germany at Wembley. She has remained unbeaten as England manager since and this week named her squad for the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup, as the Lionesses prepare for this summer's World Cup finals.
Two other candidates make the up the final three, with the award announced later this month, Lyon manager Sonia Bompastor who led them to the 2022 Champions League crown and Brazil boss Pia Sundhage, the Swede having lifted the Copa America with Selecao. Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, who won the award 12 months ago, is no longer in the running and won't be retaining her crown.
Wiegman has finished in the top three for the last five years on the bounce and will do so again after her incredible impact on the England national team. Canada boss and former England assistant Bev Priestman has dropped out of the race as the initial longlist became a three-person shortlist - the final three were chosen by an online fan vote organised by FIFA.
Dutchwoman Wiegman has won the award twice before, in 2017 and 2020, her first crown coming after she led her home nation to the European Championship title. It is the first time since 2018 that an English coach has failed to make the final shortlist.
Hayes finished third in 2020 behind Wiegman and Jean-Luc Vasseur, while both Phil Neville and then USA coach Jill Ellis came in the top three in 2019, with Ellis winning the award. Mary Earps is still in the running for the Best Women's Goalkeeper award, joined in the final shortlist by Chelsea's Ann-Katrin Berger and Lyon's Chilean stopper Christiane Endler.
The Puskas award, awarded to the most beautiful goal of the year across the world game, is also part of the FIFA Best titles. England's Alessia Russo saw her incredible backheel goal against Sweden nominated last month. The winners will be announced at a FIFA ceremony in Paris at the end of the month, on February 27.
The FIFAPro Women's World 11 will also be announced that evening, with England defenders Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright looking to make the team for the third straight year.
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