Mark Sampson has been nominated for the FIFA World Coach of the Year award for Women's Football.

The England manager led his side to a third placed finish at this summer's World Cup, with their 1-0 win over European rivals Germany making them the best team in Europe, based on the competition.

However, despite leading the surprise package of the tournament to a Bronze medal, Sampson is up against some tough competition to win the award.

Also making the final three are Jill Ellis, who led the USA all the way in the summer as they became World Champions, and Norio Sasaki, whose Japan side eliminated England in the semis before losing out to the Americans in the final.

Final three announced

FIFA announced the final shortlist for the award this afternoon, cutting their initial shortlist down to three from 10.

In the end, it was the three managers whose teams performed the best in the summer's World Cup that made the cut, five club managers missing out whilst Canada's coach, John Herdman, and the manager of Sweden's under-19s, Calle Barrling, were also omitted after being in the first 10.

1. FFC Frankfurt manager Colin Bell was not included in the final three, despite leading his side to Champions League glory this year. (Photo: UEFA)

Colin Bell's absence in the final three perhaps comes as the biggest surprise, with him having led 1. FFC Frankfurt to the Champions League trophy back in May, but the nominations for both coaches and players in the women's game were always going to be dominated by international stars this year, with it being a World Cup year.

Japan and USA looking for player-manager double

Last year, Germany dominated this awards ceremony, scooping three awards. Whilst VfL Wolfsburg's Nadine Keßler won FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, her club manager Ralf Kellermann won the coach's award, making it the first time that representatives of the same club had picked up both.

This year, that feat cannot be matched, but one country could take both awards after America's captain Carli Lloyd and Japan's creative playmaker Aya Miyama were nominated for the player's award.

Germany's Celia Sasic, who hung up her boots after this summer's World Cup, makes up the final three for the players, looking to mark her retirement with a very special award.