Jorginho and Alexia Putellas voted UEFA Players of the Year
Thursday, August 26, 2021
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Thomas Tuchel and Lluís Cortés win men's and women's Coach of the Year award.
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UEFA Men's Player of the Year
Chelsea FC midfielder Jorginho has been crowned UEFA Men's Player of the Year 2020/21. The announcement was made at today's 2021/22 UEFA Champions League group stage draw, held at the Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey. The Italian was a pillar in his club's victorious UEFA Champions League campaign last season, and arguably one of the most important players in Italy's UEFA EURO 2020 winning team.
The jury was composed of the 24 coaches of the national teams that participated in UEFA EURO 2020 this summer, together with the 80 coaches of the clubs that played the group stages of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Fifty-five journalists, one from each of UEFA's 55 member associations, selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, were also part of the jury.
Jorginho collected a total of 175 points, with Manchester City FC and Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (167 points) and Chelsea FC and French international N'Golo Kanté (160 points) taking second and third places respectively.
In a video-recorded message, 29-year-old Jorginho said:
"Hi everybody, I'm very sorry I can't be there at this important moment, due to the restrictions that we all know about. I can't be there, but I wanted to say that I'm very happy with this award.
"I would like to say thank you to all the people who made their contribution to making this happen.
"A big thanks from the heart to all the people who helped me on this route, to my family, to my friends, to the supporters, to my team-mates, to the coaches. I'm very happy. A hug to everybody."
UEFA Women's Player of the Year
Alexia Putellas was named UEFA Women's Player of the Year 2020/21 at the same ceremony in Istanbul. The Spanish midfielder wins this award for the first time.
The FC Barcelona captain, who lifted last season's UEFA Women's Champions League trophy, obtained a total of 50 points in a special poll featuring coaches and journalists. Club-mate and Spain striker Jennifer Hermoso came second with 42 points, while another FC Barcelona and Netherlands international, Lieke Martens, finished third with 40 points.
The jury was composed of the coaches of the clubs that participated in the round of 16 of the 2020/21 UEFA Women's Champions League, together with the coaches of the 12 highest-ranked teams in the latest UEFA women's national team rankings. Twenty journalists specialising in women's football and selected by the ESM group were also part of the jury.
In a video-recorded message, 27-year-old Putellas said:
"Good evening. I am very happy to receive the UEFA Player of the Year Award. Firstly, I would like to thank my team-mates and the whole team who made it possible for us to have such a successful season.
"I would also like to mention the rest of the nominees, particularly Lieke [Martens] and Jenni [Hermoso], with whom I am sharing this podium. At the end of the day, it is the entire team, the entire club which has won this [award]. It is such an achievement that so many Barça players are nominated for these awards.
"I'd also like to thank the fans for all of the love they've shown me. Let's go for more! Thank you very much."
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On the same occasion, UEFA also honoured the coaches who had the biggest impact over the previous season.
UEFA Men's Coach of the Year
Chelsea FC's Thomas Tuchel received the UEFA Men's Coach of the Year 2020/21 award. The German coach, who joined the English club in the middle of the season and led his team to their second UEFA Champions League title, received a total of 378 points in a special poll featuring coaches and journalists. Italy's national team coach, Roberto Mancini, came second with 292 points, while Manchester City FC coach Josep Guardiola was third with 198 points.
The jury was composed of the 24 coaches of the national teams that participated in UEFA EURO 2020, together with the 80 coaches of the clubs that played the group stages of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Fifty-five journalists, one from each of UEFA's 55 member associations, selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, were also part of the jury.
In a video-recorded message, 47-year-old Tuchel said:
"Sorry I can't be there in person due to travel restrictions, but we are very pleased to receive the award. I [am accepting] it on behalf of all my staff.
"I am absolutely delighted and very grateful for everybody who's supported [us]. Hope to see you soon, stay safe and all the best."
UEFA Women's Coach of the Year
On the same occasion, Lluís Cortés was voted UEFA Women's Coach of the Year 2020/21. The Spanish coach, who led FC Barcelona to an impressive UEFA Women's Champions League title last season, collected a total of 151 points in a special poll featuring coaches and journalists. Chelsea FC Women coach Emma Hayes from England came second with 78 points, while Sweden's women's national team coach Peter Gerhardsson was third with 37 points.
The jury was composed of the coaches of the clubs that participated in the round of 16 of the 2020/21 UEFA Women's Champions League, together with the coaches of the 12 highest-ranked teams in the latest UEFA women's national team rankings. Twenty journalists specialising in women's football and selected by the ESM group were also part of the jury.
In a video-recorded message, 35-year-old Cortés said:
"Hello, everyone. It's a shame that I can't be with you in Istanbul on this special day, but I'd like to thank UEFA and all the members of the jury who thought that I deserved this award. It is an honour and a pleasure. I've been working in women's football for many years, and I am very happy to receive this recognition.
"Of course, my thanks also go to FC Barcelona, from the board to the club's staff, players, and personnel, because none of this would've been possible without them. Finally, I'd like to wish the rest of the teams all the best for next season, which I am sure will be a very, very good one."
The UEFA Player and Coach of the Year awards recognise the best players and coaches, irrespective of their nationality, who have played for a football team or have coached a football team within the territory of a UEFA member national association. The awards are based on players' and coaches' performances during the 2020/21 season in all competitions, both domestic and international, and at club and national team levels.
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UEFA Champions League Players of the Season
Four players were named winners of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League positional awards during tonight's 2021/22 UEFA Champions League group stage draw.
The jury for these awards was comprised of the coaches of the 32 clubs that participated in the group stage of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League, together with 55 journalists, one from each of UEFA's 55 member associations, selected by the ESM group. The final result was based on the total number of votes cast by the coaches and the journalists.
Edouard Mendy (Senegal, Chelsea FC) was crowned UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season, amassing a total of 286 points and finishing ahead of Ederson (Brazil, Manchester City FC), who collected 154 points, and Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Real Madrid CF), who obtained 96 points.
Rúben Dias (Portugal, Manchester City FC) was named UEFA Champions League Defender of the Season with a total of 217 points. César Azpilicueta (Spain, Chelsea FC) finished second with 115 points and Antonio Rüdiger (Germany, Chelsea FC) came in third with 78 points.
N'Golo Kanté (France, Chelsea FC) was crowned UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season, picking up a total of 263 points, while Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium, Manchester City FC) obtained 197 points to finish second and Jorginho (Italy, Chelsea FC) was placed third with 149 points.
Erling Haaland (Norway, Borussia Dortmund) was named UEFA Champions League Forward of the Season, obtaining a total of 202 points. Kylian Mbappé (France, Paris Saint-Germain) came second with 154 points and Robert Lewandowski (Poland, FC Bayern München) was third with 104 points.
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UEFA Women's Champions League Players of the Season
At the same ceremony, four women's players were crowned winners of the UEFA Women's Champions League positional awards.
The jury for these awards was composed of the coaches of the clubs that participated in the round of 16 of the 2020/21 UEFA Women's Champions League. Twenty journalists specialising in women's football and selected by the ESM group were also part of the jury. The final result was based on the total number of points from the votes cast by the coaches and journalists.
Sandra Paños (Spain, FC Barcelona) was crowned UEFA Women's Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season, amassing a total of 95 points and finishing ahead of Christiane Endler (Chile, Paris Saint-Germain, now at Olympique Lyonnais), who collected 90 points, and Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany, Chelsea FC), who picked up 60 points.
Irene Paredes (Spain, FC Barcelona) was named UEFA Women's Champions League Defender of the Season with a total of 62 points. Her team-mate Mapi León (Spain, FC Barcelona) finished second with 56 points and Magdalena Eriksson (Sweden, Chelsea FC) came in third with 42 points.
Alexia Putellas (Spain, FC Barcelona) was crowned UEFA Women's Champions League Midfielder of the Season, picking up a total of 78 points, while Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, FC Barcelona) obtained 65 points to finish second and Ji So-yun (Republic of Korea, Chelsea FC) was placed third with 15 points.
Jennifer Hermoso (Spain, FC Barcelona) was named UEFA Women's Champions League Forward of the Season, achieving a total of 70 points. Lieke Martens (Netherlands, FC Barcelona) came second with 42 points and Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, FC Barcelona) was third with 39 points.
UEFA President's Award
Finally, during the awards ceremony, the medical team that saved the life of Denmark player Christian Eriksen at UEFA EURO 2020, and Danish national team captain Simon Kjær, were the recipients of the 2021 UEFA President's Award.