Angerer, Neid lead women's nominations
Monday, December 9, 2013
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Germany's success has resulted in FIFA nominations for Nadine Angerer and Silvia Neid, who is up against compatriot Ralf Kellermann and Pia Sundhage for the coaching prize.
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Germany's success at UEFA Women's EURO 2013 has resulted in FIFA nominations for both Nadine Angerer and Silvia Neid, who is up against compatriot Ralf Kellermann and Pia Sundhage for the coaching prize.
Goalkeeper Angerer captained Germany to victory in Sweden in July, saving two penalties in the final against Norway, and she is on the three-strong shortlist for the honour of FIFA Women's World Player of the Year along with holder Abby Wambach of the United States and five-time winner Marta, who has helped Tyresö FF to the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finals on their first entry.
Angerer, who in the summer left 1. FFC Frankfurt for Brisbane Roar, has already claimed the inaugural UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe Award and will hope to emulate former team-mate Birgit Prinz, named the world's best in 2003, 2004 and 2005. If Angerer wins she would be only the fifth woman to lift the award since its 2001 inauguration, after Mia Hamm, Prinz, Marta and Wambach.
Silvia Neid masterminded Germany's triumphant defence of the European title in Sweden, her second at the helm and her eighth overall as player, assistant or coach. She is one of three nominees for FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women's Football, a prize Neid landed in its inaugural year of 2010.
Pia Sundhage, who led Sweden to the semi-finals on home soil, makes it into the top three for the fourth year running, having won last year for her achievements as United States coach. The third nominee, Ralf Kellermann, guided VfL Wolfsburg to UEFA Women's Champions League glory in London at their first attempt, and they are in the quarter-finals again this season.
The winners, together with those for the men's awards, will be announced in Zurich on 13 January.