Best Women's Player in Europe Award launched

UEFA has launched the Best Women's Player in Europe Award to accompany the men's prize established two years ago.

The introduction of the award was announced on Tuesday at the opening press conference for UEFA Women's EURO 2013 in Gothenburg by UEFA Executive Committee member and chairwoman of the UEFA Women's Football Committee, Karen Espelund. "This is a new milestone," she said. "It adds further weight to the UEFA Women's EURO final tournament, the ultimate stage for players to show their skills. It proves UEFA are pushing all parts of women's football."

For the inaugural award, players will be judged by their performances during the 2012/13 campaign in all competitions, both domestic and international, and at club and national team levels. Nominees will be drawn from shortlists provided by the coaches of all 12 UEFA Women's EURO 2013 final tournament contenders and of the eight 2012/13 UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finalists. The nominees will be announced at the same time as the men's three-man shortlist on 6 August.

The voting jury for the accolade will be composed of 18 journalists, each committed to women's football, and selected by European Sports Media (ESM). The award will be presented to the winner during the 2013/14 UEFA Women's Champions League round of 32 and round of 16 draws, which will take place on 5 September at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.

The men's Best Player in Europe Award was an initiative by UEFA President Michel Platini to revive the spirit of the old European Footballer of the Year prize. The UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, created in partnership with ESM, recognises the best player, irrespective of nationality, playing for a club within the territory of a UEFA member association during the previous season.