Erling Haaland was named Europe’s footballer of the year in Monaco on Thursday. The Norwegian goalgetter won the UEFA Champions League, the English Championship, the FA Cup and the European Super Cup with Manchester City in 2023 and scored 52 goals last season.
His coach Josep Guardiola scooped the Coach of the Year award. Player of the year was the Spanish world champion and Champions League winner Aitana Bonmati. The trophy for Coach of the Year went to England team boss Sarina Wiegman.
Harsh words against Rubiales
With strong words, Bonmati and Wiegman took a stand against sexual assault against the head of the Spanish association, Luis Rubiales. Haaland’s award almost faded into the background in view of the discussion about the kiss scandal.
“We all know problems around the Spanish team. That really hurts me – as a coach, as a mother of two daughters, as a wife, as a person. This shows that there is still a very long way to go in women’s football and in society. It’s a long road,” Wiegman said. In equally haunting and emotional terms, Bonmati appealed to football officials to set an example for the children.
Klose receives President’s Award
Former Altach coach and World Cup record goalscorer Miroslav Klose received the President’s Award from the President of the European Football Association (UEFA), Aleksander Ceferin. The German is a “role model for fair play,” said the UEFA boss.
Not only Klose’s successes were highlighted, but also two scenes from his career at Lazio Rom and Werder Bremen, when he conceded a handball after scoring a goal and decided not to take a penalty. “For me it’s more important than words, if you can let actions speak, that sticks,” said Klose. The action was even more important than the trophy he had just received, he added.
2023-08-31 17:38:13
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