UVa and U-20 WNT coach Swanson named to shortlist for FIFA World Coach of Year

Virginia women’s soccer head coach Steve Swanson, who led the United States to the U-20 Women’s World Cup championship last month, was named to the shortlist for FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football the organization announced Thursday. Swanson is one of ten coaches named to the list.

Joining Swanson on the shortlist are Bruno Bini (France national team), John Herdman (Canada national team), Patrice Lair (Olympique Lyonnais), Maren Meinert (Germany U-20 national team), Silvia Neid (Germany national team), Hope Powell (England national team), Norio Sasaki (Japan national team), Pia Sundhage (USA national team) and Hiroshi Yoshida (Japan U-20/U-17 national teams).

The list of 10 coaches has been drawn up by experts from the FIFA Football Committee, the Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, as well as by a group of experts from France Football magazine.

On November 29 FIFA will announce the three finalists for the award. The winner of the award will be announced at FIFA’s awards gala in Zurich on January 7, 2013.