Joachim Low Wins 2014 FIFA Coach of the Year

Joachim Low has been revealed as the 2014 FIFA Coach of the Year, beating fellow finalists Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone to the award.     

It's the first time Low has made the three-man shortlist, let alone claim the top prize, with FIFA confirming the tactician's triumph at this year's Ballon d'Or ceremony:

United States Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann offered his congratulations to Low:

All three coaches had significant claims to the 2014 prize.

Ancelotti guided Real Madrid to a domestic and European double last season, taking Los Merengues to Copa del Rey glory before winning their Champions League final against Atletico Madrid.

The Italian has arguably the finest assortment of players in Europe under his command, but Real's quality was maintained all year long, ending with their FIFA Club World Cup victory.

Ancelotti also brought the much-awaited La Decima to the Bernabeu, their 10th European Cup secured by the Italian's tactical excellence—not least when he out-thought Pep Guardiola in the semi-final double-header with Bayern Munich.

Compared to his peers, Simeone arguably had the most difficult job of any elite manager in 2014, steering his humble Atletico side to a La Liga title and Champions League final.

This is despite the fact Spanish rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona spent far greater sums on their squad in recent years, not to mention those teams Simeone bested in European competition.

Simeone's technical genius fell only minutes short of achieving European glory, but the Argentinian's man-management is arguably second to none right now as he whips the Vicente Calderon into a cauldron-like atmosphere.

If Simeone is a fireball, Low has ice running through his veins, and there's no greater team achievement in football than a World Cup. By becoming the first European nation to win a world title in the Americas, Germany emphatically placed themselves in the history books.

Their 2014 triumph may not have come about were it not for the technical guidance of Low, who over the course of eight years has built Die Mannschaft into a global powerhouse.

The final against Argentina unsurprisingly proved to be Germany's most difficult tie, but the depth in talent assembled by Low proved too strong for La Albiceleste, winning 1-0 in Brazil.

En route to the final, Low's side also recorded a remarkable 7-1 thrashing of the hosts, showing just what a vicious machine this Germany team has grown to become under its current helmsman.

All three coaches achieved incredible success in 2014, but Low edged out his peers at Monday's awards gala.