Witsel honoured as Belgium's best of 2008

R. Standard de Liège midfielder Axel Witsel has been named as Belgium's Player of the Year for 2008, finishing ahead of team-mate Milan Jovanović at the awards ceremony at Ostend Casino.

Friendly rivals
Witsel, who turned 20 last week, finished with 204 votes in the poll, four more than striker Jovanović, with former Standard player Marouane Fellaini – who joined Everton FC in the summer – coming third. "I want to thank everyone who supported me, my family and my friends, and of course my team-mates and the people at Standard," said Witsel. "At Standard we are all friends, and this vote will not change anything to that."

Standard dominate
The 55th Belgian Golden Shoe competition, voted for by journalists, coaches, former winners and footballing VIPs, was dominated by 2007/08 champions Standard. The top six players all came from the Liege side, barring fourth-placed Mbark Boussoufa from RSC Anderlecht. Last season's winner Steven Defour was fifth with another Standard colleague, Dieudonné Mbokani, ranked sixth. Standard's successes were no great surprise. The club won their first title in 25 years under Michel Preud'homme in the spring and then qualified for the UEFA Cup Round of 32 under his successor László Bölöni in the autumn. They kick off their tie against SC Braga in Portugal on 18 February.

Goalkeeping goalscorer
In other awards, Fellaini was named as the nation's best foreign-based player, while KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen goalkeeper Silvio Proto received the prize for the best goal of the tear, having scored with a header in added time as his side claimed a 2-2 draw against KAA Gent on 28 September 2008