ESM Golden Shoe: Makaay crowned

Out in front
The Dutch international finished the Spanish season with a goal in the 2-1 defeat of RCD Espanyol on Saturday and his 29 strikes, multiplied by two to reflect the strength of the Primera División, was enough to give him a final tally of 58 points, five-and-a-half more than his nearest rival.

Generous gesture
Makaay will receive his award on 28 August, but has already taken a unique step to make sure his Deportivo team-mates were recognised for their efforts in a campaign where they finished third in Spain and earned a UEFA Champions League place. Makaay commissioned Dutch jeweller Hans Aalbers to produce 26 golden shoes for the entire Deportivo squad as thanks.

Personal thanks
"I have known Makaay since his [SBV] Vitesse days and when he told me he wanted to do something for his team-mates, we got this idea together," said Aalbers. Makaay also had a special inscription - 'gracias Roy Makaay' - placed on each shoe.  

Closest challengers
His nearest rival was Mateja Kežman, who scored 35 times for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven but finished with 52.5 points because of the 1.5 multiplier given to goals scored in the Netherlands. Third was AS Monaco FC forward Shabani Nonda, who found the net 26 times in France to finish just behind Kežman.

Last updated: 22 June 2003

Only the leading five countries (Spain, Italy, Germany, France and England) on the UEFA Ranking have 2 as their multiplier. This is to emphasise the difference in (international) performance level between the clubs from those countries and those from the other countries.

A player cannot first play in a summer league (e.g. Norway) and then in a winter league (e.g. Spain) and combine the points total for each season.

Figures from Voetbal International