England’s Sarina Wiegman has been named women’s coach of the year at the Best FIFA awards.
The Dutch coach masterminded England’s Euro 2022 run last summer, which resulted in them winning the tournament for the first time.
She beat off Lyon’s Sonia Bompastor and Pia Sundhage of Brazil at the awards ceremony in Paris.
Accepting her award, she said: “From when I could walk, I loved football and over the years I’ve seen how the women’s game has grown and developed.
“It’s incredible to be here right now and celebrate women’s football in the world. We have heroes in this room, little girls have their idols.
“They have inspirations. So many people across the world have worked so hard to get the game where it is right now.”
There were more awards for England players, with a win for Mary Earps in the best goalkeeper category.
The Manchester United player starred in every game during England’s winning Euro 2022 run, and won the trophy over Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger and Chile’s Christiane Endler.
“I just want to say thank you so much to my loved ones who have picked me up off the kitchen floor to be here today, not specifically tonight but a few years ago,” Earps said.
“For anyone who has been in a dark place, just know there is light at the end of the tunnel, so keep going. You can achieve anything that you set your mind to.”
The FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal of the year went to amputee player Marcin Oleksy, who plays on crutches, and scored a stunning overhead kick during his game for Warta Poznan against Stal Rzeszow.
Talismanic Lioness Beth Mead was beaten to the best player trophy by Spain’s Alexia Putellas, who won the award for the second year in a row, while the men’s gong was handed to Lionel Messi, who steered Argentina to World Cup glory in December.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni won the best men’s coach award, with the country’s fans winning the supporters’ award.