Madrid, Jan 5 (IANS) FC Barcelona coach Luis Enrique was named the World’s Best Club Coach in 2015 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) the team’s Argentine star Lionel Messi was chosen the World Playmaker of the Year.
Enrique, who won with 165 points, beat his compatriot Pep Guardiola by a large margin as the Bayern Munich coach obtained only 86 points, while Juventus’ Italian Massimiliano Allegri got 43 points, reports Efe.
Sevilla coach Unai Emery, winner of the Europa League, came in fourth place with 39 points, ahead of Marcello Gallardo (33 points), who led River Plate to win the Copa Libertadores and were finalists in the Club World Cup against champions FC Barcelona.
Italian Carlo Ancelotti, former coach of Real Madrid, was ranked sixth with 19 points, seven points ahead of Argentine Diego Pablo Simeone, of Atletico Madrid.
Four times World Footballer of the Year, Messi received his first award as the IFFHS World Playmaker of the Year, while the award was given to Real Madrid German player Toni Kroos in 2014.
The Argentine star acquired 168 points, a sizable margin ahead of his teammate Andres Iniesta (91), winner of the award in 2012 and 2013. Italian Andrea Pirlo of New York City came third with 54 points, followed by Belgian Eden Hazard of Chelsea and Kevin DeBruyne of VFL Wolfsburg, both receiving 22 points.
Ivorian Yaya Toure of Manchester City had 13 points, ahead of Real Madrid players German Toni Kroos (11 points), Croatian Luka Modric (11) and Colombian James Rodriguez (10).
Nicola Rizzoli was named the World’s Best Referee for the second year in a row with 80 points, eight points more than English Martin Atkinson who came second, followed by Turkish Cuneyt Cakir, who gained 71 points.
