Kuala Lumpur: DPR Korea women’s national team head coach Hwang Yong-bong has been nominated as one of FIFA’s top 10 head coaches for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2017 award, announced on Thursday.
Under Hwang’s leadership, both the U-17 and U-20 teams achieved incredible success in 2016.
They claimed their second FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title in Papua New Guinea last year, beating France 3-1 in the final.
The U-20 team beat Japan, the reigning champions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, 5-4 on penalties to secure their second title.
Hwang is expected to lead the DPR Korea teams to the upcoming AFC U-16 Women’s Championship in Thailand and the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship in China, taking place in September and October respectively.
The other candidates for the award are:
* Olivier Echouafni (FRA - French national team)
* Emma Hayes (ENG - Chelsea Ladies)
* Ralf Kellermann (GER - VfL Wolfsburg)
* Xavi Llorens (ESP - FC Barcelona Femeni)
* Nils Nielsen (DEN - Danish national team)
* Florence Omagbemi (NGA - Nigerian national team)
* Gerard Precheur (FRA - Olympique Lyonnais Feminin)
* Dominik Thalhammer (AUT - Austrian national team)
* Sarina Wiegman (NED - Netherlands national team)
The winner of this award, and the other men’s and women’s player and coach categories, will be chosen by a process involving the four main stakeholders involved in football: national team coaches, captains, selected media and the fans. Voting starts on August 21, at FIFA.com.
Voting closes on September 7, with the women’s awards taking the period November 20, 2016 to August 6, inclusive into account. The final lists of three nominees for the men’s and women’s player and coach categories – as well as for the FIFA Puskás Award, the FIFA Fan Award and the brand new The Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award – will be announced in mid-September.
Stars from around the galaxy of football will descend on London, for The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony on October 23, where all winners will be presented with their awards.
Photos: FIFA / Getty Images
Source: the-afc.com