Cesc Fàbregas named Serie A’s best coach, while Nico Paz wins best young player award

Cesc Fàbregas and Nico Paz took the top individual honors at the Gran Galà del Calcio in Milan. Fàbregas, coach of Como, was voted Serie A’s best coach for the 2025-26 season, while the Argentine midfielder Paz won the award for best young player.

The awards were decided by footballers and presented at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala. Como, coached by Fàbregas, will play in the Champions League this season for the first time in its history.

Paz, who came through Real Madrid’s academy and is set to remain with the Lombardy club for at least one more season, also made the league’s team of the year. He joined Inter striker Lautaro Martínez and Roma forward Donyell Malen in attack. The team included goalkeeper Mile Svilar, defenders Marco Palestra, Alessandro Bastoni and Manuel Akanji, and midfielders Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Scott McTominay and Luka Modrić.

Inter defender Federico Dimarco won Serie A’s best player award, while Inter was named the best club after winning the previous season’s Scudetto. Maurizio Mariani was chosen as the best referee, and Mattia Liberali won the best young player award in Serie B.

Juventus forward Francisco Conceição received the prize for best goal for a volley from the edge of the area that went into Roma’s top corner. The 15th edition of the gala also honored Franco Baresi, who died on July 31 at 66, and commemorated Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning team, 20 years after its title in Germany.