Ivanović honoured again as Serbia's best

National team captain Branislav Ivanović has been named Serbian footballer of the year for the second time, in the process becoming the first player to retain the award.

The Chelsea FC defender topped a vote of the Football Association of Serbia's (FSS) executive committee and was honoured at a ceremony in Belgrade on Friday.

Ivanović, who joins Dejan Stanković (2006, 2010) and Nemanja Vidić (2005, 2008) as a two-time recipient of the accolade, represented his country on ten occasions in 2013, while at club level he headed an added-time winner against SL Benfica in the UEFA Europa League final in Amsterdam.

"I said last year that this is the biggest honour for me," said Ivanović, 29. "Now, after my country has chosen me again, I don't have the words to explain my feelings. It gives me great pleasure and motivation to achieve further success in 2014."

The coaches' prize went to Ljubinko Drulović for guiding Serbia to their maiden UEFA European Under-19 Championship title. Drulović's team were unbeaten in their five matches in Lithuania during the summer, edging a tight final against France thanks to Andrija Luković's second-half goal.

"That was really something amazing," said Drulović, who has since left his post. "We took things step by step and finished in the sky. I am so proud of my players. They did a great job and this is an award for all of us, for everybody in Serbian football."