Photo by Robert Mayer/USA TODAY Sports
By CAITLIN MURRAY
U.S. Men’s National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann is in contention for the top coaching award in the world.
FIFA announced the shortlists for their year-end awards late Monday and Klinsmann was one of 10 coaches to make the 2014 World Coach of the Year shortlist, alongside World Cup winner Jogi Low and legend Louis Van Gaal.
For the Ballon d’Or award, the short list wasn’t so short — 23 players made the preliminary list, ranging from the usual candidates, like Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, to newcomer James Rodriguez from Colombia, who had a breakout year.
Notably absent is Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, who exited the World Cup in disgrace after an infamous third biting incident. Unsurprisingly, Germans feature heavily on the Ballon d’Or shortlist after dominating this summer’s World Cup.
The lists, including ones for the women’s categories already announced, will be whittled down to three names each on Dec. 1. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Jan. 12.
See both shortlists below (after the jump):
BALLON D’OR SHORTLIST
Gareth Bale (Wales)
Karim Benzema (France)
Diego Costa (Spain)
Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Angel Di Maria (Argentina)
Mario Goetze (Germany)
Eden Hazard (Belgium)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Toni Kroos (Germany)
Philipp Lahm (Germany)
Javier Mascherano (Argentina)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Thomas Mueller (Germany)
Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Neymar (Brazil)
Paul Pogba (France)
Sergio Ramos (Spain)
Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
James Rodriguez (Colombia)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
Yaya Toure (Côte d’Ivoire)
COACH OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Real Madrid CF)
Antonio Conte (Italy/Juventus FC/Italy national team)
Pep Guardiola (Spain/FC Bayern Munich)
Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany/USA national team)
Joachim Loew (Germany/Germany national team)
Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Chelsea FC)
Manuel Pellegrini (Chile/Manchester City FC)
Alejandro Sabella (Argentina/Argentina national team)
Diego Simeone (Argentina/Atletico Madrid)
Louis van Gaal (Netherlands/Netherlands national team/Manchester United FC)
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What do you think of these nominations? Think Klinsmann has a chance? Does his nomination vindicate his World Cup decisions? Who are your favorites to win the awards?
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