By Charles Maduka
Cesc Fabregas has become only the third non-Italian manager to win the Serie A Coach of the Year award after being recognised for his impressive work with Como during the 2025/26 season.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder received the award at the Gran Galà del Calcio AIC ceremony held at Teatro alla Scala in Milan on Wednesday.
The Italian Footballers’ Association, AIC, named Fabregas the best coach in Serie A for the season, while Inter Milan were honoured as the league’s Club of the Year.
According to Lega Serie A, the awards celebrated the standout performers of the 2025/26 campaign. Fabregas was presented with the “Allenatore dell’Anno” award, while Inter were named “Società dell’Anno.”
Fabregas’ recognition comes after he guided Como to an outstanding fourth-place finish in Serie A, earning the club Champions League qualification for the first time in its history.
Como ended the campaign with 71 points, finishing behind champions Inter Milan, Napoli and Roma in the final league standings.
The achievement places Fabregas alongside Sweden’s Sven-Göran Eriksson and Portugal’s José Mourinho as the only foreign managers to have won the Serie A Coach of the Year award.
Eriksson became the first non-Italian to receive the honour after guiding Lazio to the Serie A title during the 1999/2000 season.
Mourinho later claimed the award in successive seasons after leading Inter Milan to major domestic and European success, including the historic treble in the 2009/10 campaign.
Fabregas’ award is another major milestone in Como’s remarkable rise under his management. The club secured a place among Europe’s elite with their impressive fourth-place finish and will compete in the Champions League for the first time.
The Gran Galà del Calcio ceremony also brought further recognition for Como, with midfielder Nico Paz named Serie A Young Player of the Year.
Inter’s Federico Dimarco was voted the overall best player of the 2025/26 season, adding another individual honour to the club’s successful campaign.
Lega Serie A stated that the awards were determined through votes from the players, who selected the best performers in their respective positions. The Goal of the Year award was the only exception, as it was decided through a fan vote.
At 39, Fabregas now joins Eriksson and Mourinho in an exclusive group of non-Italian managers who have won the Serie A Coach of the Year award.
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