Jurgen Klinsmann was included on the list of candidates for the 2014 FIFA World Coach of the Year award for men's football, reports revealed on Tuesday.

Klinsmann drew flak from fans before the 2014 FIFA World Cup after not including U.S. soccer icon Landon Donovan on the squad that competed in Brazil, and most fans were also not impressed with their performance in the tournament.

However, the round-of-16 finish for the United States Men's National Team was enough for Klinsmann to become a candidate for the prestigious award. The USMNT finished second in Group D behind Germany before losing to Belgium in extra time in the round-of-16.

Below is the 10-man shortlist for the 2014 FIFA World Coach of the Year Award via ESPN FC.

  • Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid
  • Antonio Conte, Juventus/Italy
  • Pep Guardiola, Bayern Munich
  • Jurgen Klinsmann, United States
  • Joachim Low, Germany
  • Jose Mourinho, Chelsea
  • Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City
  • Alejandro Sabella, Argentina
  • Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid
  • Louis van Gaal, Netherlands/Manchester United

Klinsmann's inclusion raised eyebrows with most fans saying that the Costa Rica head coach Jorge Luis Pinto should have been included on the list of candidates. Pinto led the Ticos to a surprising World Cup quarterfinal stint where they lost to eventual third-placers Netherlands via penalty-kick shootout.

Jose Pekerman, who also guided Colombia to the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals where they lost to host Brazil, also failed to make it into the list despite the fact that his team was considered as one of the most surprising squads during the tournament.

However, Sporting News reported that FIFA might have been impressed with Klinsmann's work since taking over the USMNT program. Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone praised Klinsmann back in July.

"Klinsmann has revolutionized football in the United States," Simeone said. "He has been able to get a whole country behind the team, and that's very difficult in the USA. But above all, he got the team working together and for each other -- and they competed at an excellent level in the World Cup. It was a great collective effort."

FIFA will trim the list down to three candidates on Dec. 1 and the winner will be named on Jan. 15 in Zurich.

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