Agencies
Zurich, January 13
Germany boss Joachim Low has been voted Fifa World Coach of the Year after guiding his side to World Cup glory in Brazil, beating Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone to the award.
The 54-year-old won the biggest trophy of his career back in July as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 after extra-time in the final in Rio, courtesy of a Mario Gotze strike, and received 36.23 per cent of the votes for the award at the Ballon d’Or Gala.The Germans had previously impressed with a 7-1 win over Brazil in the semi-finals, while they also proved to be too strong for France, Algeria, USA and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, with a group-stage draw against Ghana the only blot on their record.
“I think it is something very special, it’s a huge honour and it makes me proud. But I am nothing without the team, the team behind the coach, the organisation. The World Cup win was a reward for all the hard work,” Low said after the ceremony.
“If you become world champions, there is nothing to top that. It’s the result of many years of work, good decisions inside the association, good training and good players.”
Low had previously steered Germany to the semi-finals at Euro 2012 and the 2010 World Cup, having lost to Spain in the final of Euro 2008.
His side also established a new record for consecutive wins in competitive internationals, with 15 games won in a row between 2010 and 2012.
Low said that his next challenge would be to win further titles for Germany.
“The next goal would be to… confirm this title by winning another (title). That would be great. Spain showed us how to proceed – that’s what we want to do.”
The Germany coach follows in the footsteps of previous winners Jupp Heynckes (2013), Vicente del Bosque (2012), Pep Guardiola (2011) and Jose Mourinho (2010).
Ancelotti, 55, finished second with 22.06% of the votes after guiding Madrid to Champions League and Copa del Rey glory in his first season in charge of the Santiago Bernabeu side.
The 44-year-old Simeone was third with 19.02% after he enjoyed a fine 2014 in which he helped Atletico to their first La Liga title since 1996 and the Champions League final.
