In a historic moment for football, Carlo Ancelotti and Emma Hayes were honored with the inaugural Johan Cruyff Awards, recognizing them as the best coaches in men’s and women’s football, respectively, at the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Carlo Ancelotti’s remarkable season with Real Madrid saw him secure a record-extending 15th Champions League title, marking the fifth time he has lifted this prestigious trophy as a manager.
In addition to the Champions League, Ancelotti led his team to victory in La Liga, further solidifying his legacy in European football.
On the women’s side, Emma Hayes achieved significant success with Chelsea, guiding the team to their fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title.
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Under her leadership, Chelsea also reached the finals of the Women’s League Cup and the semi-finals of both the Women’s Champions League and the Women’s FA Cup.
After a successful tenure with Chelsea, Hayes transitioned to coach the United States women’s national team, where she recently led them to Olympic gold in Paris, defeating Brazil 1-0—a victory that marked their first Olympic gold in 12 years.
Although neither coach was present to accept their awards—Hayes is currently preparing for a match against Argentina in the U.S. and Real Madrid opted not to send representatives in protest over Vinicius Junior’s exclusion from the prestigious Ballon d’Or nominations—both expressed gratitude through video messages.
“I’m very honored to be awarded the first Ballon d’Or for a coach in the women’s game,” Hayes shared.
“I understand how challenging our work is. I feel a little embarrassed because we’re in a team game. I’ve been so honored to coach such incredible people at Chelsea and the United States.
This is a very proud day.”
The recognition of both Ancelotti and Hayes marks a significant step in acknowledging the critical roles that coaches play in the success of their teams, setting a high bar for future generations in the world of football.
