Narciso, Schirinzi and Stanislawski voted as the world’s best coaches.
With the nominees for MVP and Best Goalkeeper already confirmed this week, we can now reveal Mario Narciso, Angelo Schirinzi and Marcin Stanislawski will compete to be crowned Best Coach for 2016.
The awards will be presented at Beach Soccer Stars Night in Dubai on November 5th and all three are based on votes cast by players and coaches from each country.
The contenders
Mario Narciso (Portugal)
Having led Portugal to world and European glory in 2015, the long-serving national coach has kept his side at number one in the world rankings while also making further significant steps.
This year has seen Portugal lift the Euro Beach Soccer Cup in Belgrade, reach the final of the Euro Beach Soccer League and qualify for next year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in the Bahamas.
Portugal remain the team to beat in the world of beach soccer and much of that is down to the work of Narciso, who gains a nomination for the second year running.
Angelo Schirinzi (Switzerland)
Having also taken on a new challenge this year with the Bahamas national team’s early development, Schirinzi continues to impress in charge of Switzerland, who consistently remain in the world’s top 10.
Schirinzi will go up against the Bahamas with Switzerland at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Nassau next year after a stellar campaign at the qualifier in Jesolo where they fell just short in the final against Poland.
That 6-3 defeat failed to diminish Swiss achievements this season however, as they picked up a host of individual honours as well as a first-place finish in Division A, Group Two at the Euro Beach Soccer League stage in Sanxenxo.
Marcin Stanislawski (Poland)
After Poland’s stunning success at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualifier in Jesolo, Stanislawski’s name was always likely to be among the top three.
Stanislawski, with the likes of veteran Boguslaw Saganowski and captain Witold Ziober, produced a major upset in Italy as they pulled off victories against Russia, Ukraine, Italy and Switzerland en route to arguably their best achievement in the sport.
The coach’s role cannot be underestimated and Stanislawski will hope to add an individual title to his side’s Jesolo success.