Martin Ødegaard’s FIFA Best Vote Sparks Debate After Arteta Miss.
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has found himself at the centre of debate after details emerged of his voting choices for The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award, where he did not place Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as his top selection. The revelation has generated discussion among fans and pundits alike, particularly given the close professional relationship between Ødegaard and Arteta at the Emirates Stadium.
As part of FIFA’s voting process, national team captains are required to rank their top three candidates for the annual award. Ødegaard, who captains Norway, opted to give his highest vote to Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique, with Arteta placed second. While Arteta did receive recognition from his own captain, the fact that he was not ranked first has been interpreted by some as a surprising decision, especially after another strong season under the Spaniard at Arsenal.
Arteta ultimately finished fourth in the overall voting standings, missing out on the top three despite guiding Arsenal through another highly competitive campaign domestically and in Europe. Luis Enrique went on to win the award, having overseen major success with PSG, while other coaches such as Hansi Flick and Arne Slot also finished ahead of Arteta.
The situation has highlighted the subjective nature of FIFA’s voting system, which blends opinions from national team captains, coaches, journalists and fans. Ødegaard’s vote reflects a personal assessment of global coaching impact rather than a judgment on his club manager’s influence. By placing Arteta second, the Norwegian midfielder still acknowledged the Arsenal boss as one of the elite coaches in world football.
Inside Arsenal, there is no suggestion of tension between Ødegaard and Arteta. The pair have built a strong working relationship since Ødegaard’s permanent move to North London, with Arteta entrusting him with the captain’s armband and a central leadership role in the squad. Ødegaard has repeatedly praised Arteta’s tactical detail, man-management and vision for the club’s long-term future.
However, the public nature of FIFA’s voting breakdown has inevitably fueled online debate. Some Arsenal supporters felt Arteta deserved full backing from his captain, while others defended Ødegaard’s right to vote independently in a global award that extends beyond club loyalty. Similar scrutiny has been applied to other high-profile captains, including those who left Arteta out of their top three entirely.
From a broader perspective, the episode underlines how competitive the elite coaching landscape has become. Success at the highest level is measured not only by league position but also by silverware, continental achievements and overall squad development. While Arteta may have missed out on this particular honour, his continued progress with Arsenal suggests his reputation remains firmly intact.
Ultimately, Ødegaard’s vote is unlikely to have any lasting impact on Arsenal’s internal dynamics. Instead, it serves as another reminder of the intense spotlight surrounding modern football, where even award ballots can become headline news. For Arteta and Ødegaard, attention will now turn back to the pitch, where their shared ambition of delivering trophies to North London remains the true priority.