Pere Romeu Wins Johan Cruyff Trophy at 2026 Ballon d'Or Ceremony

FC Barcelona Femeni head coach Pere Romeu won the Women's Coach of the Year award, also known as the Johan Cruyff Trophy, at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony in London. The 32-year-old manager made history as the first coach from the Catalan club to receive the prize in either the men's or women's category since the award's inception.

Romeu took over the leadership of FC Barcelona Femeni following the departure of Jonatan Giráldez and guided the team through a stellar season. Under his direction, the squad secured four official titles, capturing the domestic sweep with the Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, and the Supercopa de España, alongside the prestigious UEFA Women's Champions League crown.

Reflecting on the honor during a post-ceremony interview, Romeu expressed immense pride in the collective effort of the organization. "We can be super proud for this award, very happy for all the team, for all the players, for all the staff, because I think we did things very well last season," he said.

In the voting for the Women's Coach of the Year, Romeu competed against a strong slate of nominees that included Jonatan Giráldez, now at Olympique de Lyon, Andrée Jeglertz of Manchester City, Nils Nielsen of the Japan national team, and Elena Sadiku of BK Häcken. Romeu ultimately triumphed after maintaining the club's dominance on both the national and European stages.

The 2026 Ballon d'Or gala proved to be a historic night for Spanish football overall. In the men's category, Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente secured the Men's Coach of the Year award after leading his squad to victory in the FIFA World Cup, adding to their previous successes at UEFA Euro 2024 and the UEFA Nations League.

FC Barcelona's influence extended across multiple categories during the ceremony held in London. Former club captain Alexia Putellas claimed her third Women's Ballon d'Or before her move to English side London City Lionesses, while young midfielder Vicky López earned the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player, and Cata Coll received the Yashin Trophy as the season's best goalkeeper.

Additionally, FC Barcelona Femeni was officially recognized as the best women's team of the year. Club president Joan Laporta accepted the accolade on behalf of the organization, celebrating a remarkably successful campaign defined by individual excellence and collective silverware.