Erling Haaland wins UEFA Player of the Year award, Pep Guardiola named Coach of the Year

Posted : 01 September 2023

Erling Haaland, the prolific striker who played a pivotal role in Manchester City's historic treble-winning season and topped the goal charts in both the Premier League and the Champions League for the 2022/23 season, claimed the prestigious Player of the Year award from UEFA. Haaland outshone football legends Lionel Messi (2nd place) and his teammate Kevin De Bruyne (3rd place) to secure the top spot. Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, complemented this triumph by being named Coach of the Year.

Haaland's goal-scoring prowess was nothing short of extraordinary in his debut season with Manchester City. He netted an astounding 12 goals in the Champions League, surpassing his nearest competitor, Mohamed Salah, by four goals. In the Premier League, Haaland set a new record with 36 goals in a single season. Furthermore, he became the youngest and quickest player to reach 35 goals in the Champions League. His outstanding performance played a crucial role in Manchester City's remarkable treble victory, which included the Champions League, Premier League, and domestic Cup titles.

Several standout moments defined Haaland's season. He achieved a hat-trick in a remarkable 7-0 win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League's round of 16. During the league's first derby against Manchester United, he displayed his brilliance with a remarkable hat-trick, contributing to his overall tally of six goals against their arch-rivals during the season. In the Champions League quarter-final clash with Bayern Munich, Haaland provided a goal and an assist in a memorable 3-0 victory.

Completing the top five of the Player of the Year rankings were Ilkay Gundogan in fourth place, who played a vital role for Manchester City last season before joining Barcelona, and Rodri in fifth place. Kylian Mbappe secured the sixth position, with the top ten rounded out by Luka Modric (7), Marcelo Brozovic (8), Declan Rice (9), and Alexis Mac Allister (10).

Pep Guardiola was named the Men's Coach of the Year after leading Manchester City to their historic treble. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend the ceremony due to back surgery. Luciano Spalletti (2nd place) and Simona Inzaghi (3rd place) followed in the coaching rankings, with Spalletti leaving Napoli to become the coach of the Italian national team and Inzaghi guiding Inter Milan to a Coppa Italia victory and a spot in the Champions League final.

The UEFA Women's Player of the Year award was claimed by Itana Bonmati, a talented midfielder from Spain and Barcelona. She succeeded her teammate Alexia Fotias. Bonmati, 25, recently led Spain to its first-ever World Cup title and was named the tournament's top performer. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in Barcelona's victories in the Champions League, Spanish league, and Spanish Super Cup. Olga Camerona, a left-back from Real Madrid, and Chelsea striker Sam Kerr took the second and third positions, respectively, in the Women's Player of the Year rankings.

The Women's Coach of the Year award was secured by England coach Sarina Wighman, who remarkably reached two consecutive World Cup finals, becoming the first coach to do so. She was followed by Spain coach Jorge Vilda, who celebrated victory at the end of the World Cup, and Jonathan Giraldez, who guided Barcelona to a Champions League triumph.

Erling Haaland wins UEFA Player of the Year award, Pep Guardiola named Coach of the Year

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