Jill Ellis picked up the prestigious FIFA Women's Coach of the Year for 2015 tonight, at the football federation's prestigious annual awards ceremony.

Fighting off competition from Mark Sampson and Norio Sasaki to win the award, Ellis was the overwhelming victor, with many citing her as an unsurprising winner.

Ellis led the USA to World Cup victory

Having taken over from Tom Sermanni as USA Women's National Team boss a year previously, there was huge pressure on Ellis to delvier and coach her country to victory. 

Coaching talents such as Carli Lloyd, Rebecca Sauerbrunn and Megan Rapione, Ellis utilised them all to their strengths, bringing the most covered Women's World Cup of all time home to America.

Topping their group without being beaten, Ellis' women went on to defeat Colombia and China in the last 16 and quarter-final respectively, before booking their place in the final with a 2-0 win over Germany.

That set up a heavyweight clash against Japan, who had beaten USA in the World Cup final in 2011 on penalties. Ellis' brilliant management ensured that her side got revenge, going 4-0 up inside 20 minutes, eventually winning 5-2 to claim the trophy. 

Ellis guided the USA to World Cup victory (photo: Getty Images)
Ellis guided the USA to World Cup victory (photo: Getty Images)

A 'true honour' to win

Upon recieving the award, Ellis described it as a "true honour" to win, thanking her players, captains and all the staff back in the US, citing their "commitment, effort and belief" as a huge reason for their success.

Adding to that, she acknowleged the contributions of the pair she defeated, thanking Sampson and Sasaki for "making things hard", and for continuing to help "elevate the women's game".

Finally, Ellis thanked her friends and family, explaining that her dad was present at the awards, which makes it even more of "a thrill".

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