Lionel Scaloni has won The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award for 2022 after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar.
The 44-year-old proved doubters wrong after his appointment in 2018 by delivering success in the 2021 Copa America, ending the Albiceleste’s 28-year trophy run.
He and Argentina followed that success with victory at the 2022 World Cup, bouncing back from an opening defeat to Saudi Arabia to make their way to the final where they beat France on penalties.
Accepting the award in Paris, Scaloni thanked his squad and said: “The most beautiful thing is making your people and your country happy. It’s priceless. This victory is for them.”
Scaloni has just signed a new contract extension with Argentina which will keep him in the role until 2026, when the next World Cup is scheduled to take place.
Argentina lost the first game of their World Cup campaign in shocking fashion as Saudi Arabia claimed a monumental win, but Scaloni oversaw a recovery mission which saw his side topple the likes of Australia, the Netherlands, Croatia and finally France in the knockout stages.