Jul 13, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique and Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca before the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Segar-Reuters via Imagn Images

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2025 Cruyff Trophy Nominees: Five Tactical Masterminds Revealed for Men’s Team Coach of the Year

France Football has officially announced the five nominees for the 2025 Men’s Cruyff Trophy. The Cruyff Trophy is otherwise known as the Coach of the Year award and is given as part of the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards. It honours the best coach in world football for the season.

This year’s shortlist features a star-studded group of tacticians who led their respective teams to silverware by delivering standout performances across Europe. The five nominees for the 2025 Men’s Cruyff Trophy are Luis Enrique (Paris St-Germain), Hansi Flick (Barcelona), Antonio Conte (Napoli), Enzo Maresca (Chelsea) and Arne Slot (Liverpool).

Here are our 2025 nominees for the Men's Team Coach of the Year Trophy!

Antonio Conte
Luis Enrique
Hansi Flick
Enzo Maresca
Arne Slot#ballondor pic.twitter.com/ES5OaOvP5n
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) August 7, 2025

Enrique and Flick Favorites for 2025 Cruyff Trophy

The frontrunner for the trophy will be Luis Enrique, who finally delivered PSG’s first-ever UEFA Champions League title while also guiding the Parisians to a historic treble. Under Enrique, PSG produced some of the most fluid, dominant football seen in Europe this season.

Enrique will face stiff competition from Hansi Flick, who had a dream debut season at Barcelona. The German tactician clinched a domestic treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. Barca also made a strong Champions League run, reaching the semi-finals before bowing out to Inter Milan.

ALSO READ: Liverpool Target PSG Star Bradley Barcola As Alexander Isak Deal Hangs in Balance

Meanwhile, Antonio Conte earned his nomination after guiding Napoli to the Scudetto, edging out Inter Milan in a title race that went down to the final day. Enzo Maresca also made the shortlist by leading Chelsea to their first FIFA Club World Cup title. Arne Slot made an immediate impression at Liverpool in his debut season as he guided the Reds to the Premier League title.

The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, where the Cruyff Trophy winner will be revealed, will take place in Paris on September 22. Only performances from the 2024-25 season are considered for this prestigious award.

Antonio Conte

Arne Slot

Cruyff Trophy

Enzo Maresca

Hansi Flick

Luis Enrique

Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.