UEFA has announced their nominees for the player of the year award for the 2020/21 season. They have also announced the shortlist for the men’s coach of the year. One of Kevin De Bruyne, Jorginho or N’Golo Kanté will win the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2020/21. It is the first all-midfield shortlist in the prize’s 11-year history. The winner will be named along with the UEFA positional awards during the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League draw ceremony in Istanbul on Thursday 26 August.
Also, Read: UEFA announces nominees for Champions League positional awards
A jury comprising of 24 coaches of national teams that participated in the UEFA Euro 2020; 80 coaches of the clubs which played in the group stages of 2020/21 UCL and UEL; 55 journalists from each of UEFA’s 55 member associations, selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group; selects three players by allocating respectively five points, three points and one point to each of them. However, coaches are not allowed to select players from their own team. Similarly, with the coaches the same process was followed however, coaches weren’t allowed to vote for themselves.
Nominees for the UEFA Player of the year 2020/21:
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
He was the runners up in the award last year. However, it didn’t affect him as he picked right from where he left off. He inspired City through to the premier league title and helped the team reach its maiden UCL final. However, a facial injury forced him off the pitch and ultimately resulting in a defeat for the team. With Belgium, he crashed out of the Euros in the quarter-finals against Italy.
Jorginho (Chelsea, Italy)
Jorginho Became only the tenth player to win a European Cup and a EURO in the same year. He also started every EURO 2020 game for Italy and only missed just one game in the Blues’ run to Champions League glory. However, many may argue about his actual contribution and may bring his individual performance into action, but his presence in the midfield was enough for his team to win the title.
Also Read: Ballon d’Or 2021: Top 5 Contenders who could win it this year
N’Golo Kante (Chelsea, France)
He is probably the most impactful player on the Chelsea side. Although he has no individual goals or assists to his name in the competition, his defensive and intercepting role is what made the difference for Chelsea in the midfield. He also won the Player of the Match performances in both legs of Chelsea’s semi-final win against Real Madrid and then the final against City. However, he crashed out of the Euros with an upset caused to France by Switzerland.
The Rest of the Top 10:
4. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, now at PSG & Argentina) – 148 points
5. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern & Poland) – 140 points
6. Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan, now at PSG & Italy) – 49 points
7. Kylian Mbappé (PSG & France) – 31 points
8. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City & England) – 18 points
9. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus & Portugal) – 16 points
10. Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund & Norway) – 15 points
Nominees for the UEFA coach of the year 2020/21:
Josep Guardiola (Manchester City)
Arguably one of the best managers in history guided City to their first-ever Champions League final. He helped the Blues reach the top spot in England once again, winning the Premier League staying 12 points clear and also the League Cup.
Also Read: Football Facts: Football managers who won the treble
Roberto Mancini (Italian Men’s national team)
The man who made quite the impossible happen for the Azzurri’s. From failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to win UEFA EURO 2020 in thrilling style, Mancini crowned fixed the broken crown on Italy’s head. Moreover, they did it in a flawless way with the final being their 34th game unbeaten.
Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea)
Thomas Tuchel is the only man to reach the UEFA Champions League final twice in a row with two different clubs. He did it a year ago with PSG but fell short against Bayern, however, his second time was a charm when he bagged the shrine with Chelsea defeating the ever-favourites Manchester City 1-0 in the final. He helped the London blues win their second UCL title, and made an incredible turnaround for the club after joining mid-season replacing Frank Lampard.
The Rest of the Top 10:
4. Unai Emery (Villarreal) – 64 points
5. Diego Simeone (Atlético de Madrid) – 29 points
6. Antonio Conte (Internazionale, now a free agent) – 19 points
7. Gareth Southgate (England) – 18 points
8. Christophe Galtier (LOSC Lille, now at Nice) – 16 points
9. Ole Gunnar Solskjær (Manchester United) – 14 points
10. Kasper Hjulmand (Denmark) – 11 points
