The UEFA Awards honor the top players from the UEFA Champions League each year, presenting accolades across both men’s and women’s football. Each year, Europe’s football governing body bestows these awards on the most distinguished club performers from the preceding year. These ceremonies are held annually in Monaco in August, coinciding with the UCL group stage draw. Last year, Karim Benzema received the award for the men’s player of the year. At the same time, Alexia Putellas from the Champions of Europe, Barcelona, was named the women’s UCL player of the year. However, Benzema has since moved to Saudi Arabia and Putellas spent a significant part of the past year sidelined due to injury. As a result, there will be new winners this year. Read on to find out just who!
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Men’s Player of the Year: The contestants in this year’s Men’s Player of the Year are Manchester City stars Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne as well as footballing legend Lionel Messi. As this is a UEFA award, weight will likely be given towards Champions League performances. While Lionel Messi had an incredible footballing year, his PSG side crashed out of the Champions League in the Round of 16. Manchester City won it. Expect one of the Manchester boys to win it, my money is on Kevin de Bruyne.
Men’s Coach of the Year: The contenders are Pep Guardiola, Luciano Spalletti, and Simone Inzaghi. Whilst Spalletti and Inzaghi did impressive things for Napoli and Inter Milan respectively, there can be no doubt that Pep will win this award. He led his team to the treble, doing so in swashbuckling style. Congratulations, Pep.
Women’s Player of the Year: Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona), Olga Carmona (Real Madrid), and Sam Kerr (Chelsea) are the three nominees for this award. All were exceptional in the recent World Cup, with Carmona scoring the winning goal. It looks like Bonmati may take the cake considering her contribution to Barcelona’s recent Women’s Champions League victory.
Women’s Coach of the Year: Jorge Vilda (Spain), Jonatan Giraldez (Barcelona) and Sarina Wiegman (England) contest this award. Vilda led Spain to World Cup victory, whilst Wiegman led England inches from it, as they came close runners-up. It appears that Giraldez may win this award, making it a Barcelona sweep as he won the Women’s Champions League with Barca.
Who do you think will win awards? Tweet and chat with us @365Scores!
Also today, the Champions League Group Stage Draw!
The UEFA Champions League pots ahead of tonight's draw! ⭐️#UEFA #UCL #ChampionsLeague #365Scores pic.twitter.com/3SQf4DtVlI
— 365Scores (@365Scores) August 31, 2023
Pot 1: Manchester City, Sevilla, Barcelona, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain, Benfica, Feyenoord
Pot 2: Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, Porto, Arsenal
Pot 3: Shakhtar Donetsk, Salzburg, Milan, Braga, PSV Eindhoven, Lazio, Red Star Belgrade, FC Copenhagen
Pot 4: Young Boys, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Celtic, Newcastle United, Union Berlin, Royal Antwerp, RC Lens
The group stages are set to take place from 19 September to 13 December, culminating in the final at Wembley on 1 June.
This will be the last Champions League conducted under the existing structure, where the leading two teams from each quartet advance to the last-16 knockout round. From next season, 2024/25, the Champions League will be contested by 36 teams with all teams playing eight games in the group stage, instead of six.
By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyH3lfgott on Twitter
