After accepting his prize, the 65-year-old said: "A lot of players here [I coached]! I'm really honoured to receive this award. I'd like to thank FIFA and president Gianni Infantino. I want to share this with my club Real Madrid and president Florentino Perez to give me the opportunity to be the manager of the best club in the world. I have to share with my players that they sometimes listen to me!
"I have to pay thanks to my family - my wife Mariann who supports me with peace and love which is important for my job. I started in 1976, 48 years in football. Football has given me a lot of emotions, sometimes positive but sometimes negative. But emotion is the only reason that after 48 years I'm still alive!"