Stanković singled out for praise in Serbia

FC Internazionale Milano midfielder Dejan Stanković has been named Serbian player of the year for the second time, with the 2010 coach of the year honours going to former Ghana boss Milovan Rajevac.

First crowned in 2006, Stanković was chosen again by the Football Association of Serbia's executive committee after collecting five trophies in a brilliant season with Inter. The Nerazzurri won Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League last term, before adding the Italian Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to their haul.

Stanković also captained Serbia to the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa and is the only Serbian player to have appeared in three World Cups, having featured for Yugoslavia at France 1998 and Serbia and Montenegro in Germany four years ago. The 32-year-old lies second on Serbia's all-time appearances list with 95 caps, seven fewer than Savo Milošević.

He will receive his award at a ceremony in Belgrade on 28 December, along with Rajevac, who was nominated after leading Ghana to the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by Uruguay on penalties. The 56-year-old, currently in charge of Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ahli, was also named African coach of the year earlier this week.