Cesc Fàbregas Wins Coach of the Year as Como Shines
Cesc Fàbregas walked onto the Gran Gala del Calcio stage as the coach of a “small reality.” He walked off as Coach of the Year.
The Como head coach, still only 37 and not long removed from his playing days with Arsenal and Chelsea, beat a field of established Italian managers to claim one of the most coveted individual awards in the country. The trophy was handed to him by Italy boss Roberto Mancini, a passing of the baton that felt symbolic as much as ceremonial.
Around him, the giants of the Italian game collected their own prizes. Inter were named Club of the Year. Federico Dimarco took Player of the Year. Yet, in a room built for superclubs and serial winners, it was the man leading Como who drew some of the loudest applause.
A “small reality” on a big stage
Fàbregas has turned Como into one of the most intriguing projects in Italian football. His team plays with what he calls “very young lads,” but the football is anything but naïve. Proactive tactics, technical courage, and an insistence on attacking identity have made Como a refreshing watch and turned their coach into one of Europe’s most talked-about young tacticians.
“We made history with very young lads,” he said from the podium, the pride obvious. “Now we want to try to grow even further.”
That line captures the essence of his work: ambition without arrogance. The club’s growth has been rapid, expectations rising in step with results, yet Fàbregas has been careful to keep the narrative grounded.
“We are Como, a small reality, we go slowly,” he reminded the audience. “We must go step by step, every year the pressure rises and it is a pleasure. We take the pressure naturally.”
No grand declarations. No promises he cannot keep. Just a clear plan and a belief that each season should be a layer, not a shortcut.
Youth, bravery, and a clear identity
His approach has won admirers across the league. Fàbregas has built a side that leans heavily on youthful energy, asking his players to be brave on the ball and aggressive without it. That blend of intensity and composure has become Como’s calling card.
He has spoken often about technical bravery, about trusting players to make decisions rather than hiding behind rigid patterns. The award, he insisted, belongs as much to his squad as to him.
“This award pleases me, it is an honour to be here,” he said, while quickly steering the conversation back to the collective and to sustainable growth at the club.
The hard work starts again
The glitter of the Gran Gala lasts one night. The grind of a domestic campaign lasts months.
With the Coach of the Year trophy now secured, Fàbregas returns to the day-to-day reality that has built his reputation: training sessions, tactical tweaks, and the relentless work of guiding Como through the demands of Serie A.
The objective does not change. Develop the squad. Protect and refine that attacking identity. Move, as he keeps repeating, step by step.
Individual recognition has arrived sooner than many expected. The real question now is how far this “small reality” can stretch under a coach who already looks built for the biggest stages.
