Spalletti, Inzaghi and Donnarumma – intriguing FIFA The Best votes | OneFootball

Luciano Spalletti finished second behind Pep Guardiola in the FIFA The Best Awards, with Simone Inzaghi in third, and there are some interesting twists when analysing the voting details.

The award for Coach of the Year was always likely to go to Guardiola after he took Manchester City to the Treble, securing the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, followed swiftly by the Club World Cup.

Almost all the coaches who voted for their peers put Guardiola on the podium – except for three – and all of them put Spalletti on top for winning the Scudetto at Napoli.

They were Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, Gibraltar coach Julio Cesar Ribas and the manager of Kenya Engin Firat.

Spalletti was also voted in first place by the managers of Afghanistan, Cyprus, Jamaica, Kenya, Moldova, Nepal, Nigeria, Scotland, Gambia and Vanuatu.

Inzaghi took Inter to the Champions League Final and he was honoured with first place by the managers of Poland, Bolivia, Azerbaijan, Jordan and the Central African Republic.

As the international managers were able to cast votes and Spalletti left Napoli to become the Italy CT this season, he was the only one technically able to vote for himself.

However, he put Guardiola first, followed by Xavi and only in third Inzaghi.

His votes for best player also showed little sign of Napoli favouritism, putting Victor Osimhen third behind Kylian Mbappé and winner Lionel Messi.

Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma was also able to cast his votes, choosing Messi, Mbappé and Erling Haaland for best player, putting Spalletti and Inzaghi ahead of Guardiola for coach.

When it came to his goalkeeping peers, Donnarumma picked Ederson, Thibaut Courtois and Yassine Bounou.