MONACO: Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and manager Pep Guardiola won UEFA awards on Thursday for the best men’s player and coach of the year as women’s winners Aitana Bonmati and Sarina Wiegman addressed the turmoil in Spanish soccer in their speeches.
Norwegian Haaland beat his team mate Kevin De Bruyne and 2022 World Cup champion Lionel Messi after helping City win three major trophies, the Champions League, English Premier League and FA Cup.
The 22-year-old, who on Tuesday was named England’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year, scored 52 goals in 53 matches across all competitions last season.
Guardiola was voted ahead of Italians Luciano Spalletti, who led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years, and Simone Inzaghi whose Inter Milan side were Champions League runners-up and won the Italian Cup.
The Spanish manager was not present to receive the award as he is recovering from his back surgery.
England coach Sarina Wiegman took the prize for the Women’s Coach of the Year after leading the Lionesses to this year’s World Cup final and victory in the Finalissima against Brazil at Wembley in April.
Wiegman dedicated her award to the Spain women’s team after the kiss incident involving federation president Luis Rubiales took the spotlight when Spain secured their first Women’s World Cup title.
