Sarina Wiegman: England manager wins Uefa women’s Coach of the Year award following Euros success


England manager Sarina Wiegman has been named women’s Uefa Coach of the Year 2021-22 after leading the Lionesses to a historic victory at the Euros.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema won the men’s Player of the Year award following a La Liga and Champions League double last season.

His manager Carlo Ancelotti was named as the men’s Coach of the Year.

Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas claimed the women’s Player of the Year award for a consecutive year.

Wiegman beat Lyon manager Sonia Bompastor, who guided the French side to their eighth Champions League title, and Germany coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg to the women’s Coach of the Year award after leading England to their first major tournament success since the 1966 men’s World Cup.

“Things have been set in place and gone very well since I started with the team in September,” Wiegman said in response to winning the award.

“We’ve really enjoyed it and we’ve performed at our highest level.

“Now we are looking forward again. Hopefully we qualify for the World Cup and then next year we go to the World Cup and try to improve the game, perform ourselves and enjoy the game of course.”

Karim Benzema

A golden boot winner in La Liga and the Champions League last season, Benzema picked up the men’s player award.

The 34-year-old, who is a leading contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or, fought off competition from Real Madrid team-mate Thibaut Courtois and Kevin de Bruyne of Manchester City.

Benzema netted 27 goals in the Spanish top flight, nine more than any other player, while also scoring 15 in the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti wins the men’s Coach of the Year award after he became the first manager to win the title in all five of Europe’s major leagues when Real claimed their 35th La Liga.

The Italian also became the first coach to win four Champions League trophies when he guided his team to victory in the final against Liverpool.

Despite missing out on Euro 2022 with a knee injury, Putellas won the women’s player award for a second year running.

The 28-year-old Spaniard beat Arsenal and England forward Beth Mead – the Euros golden boot winner – and VfL Wolfsburg and Germany midfielder Lena Oberdorf.

Before tearing her anterior cruciate ligament on the eve of the Euros, Putellas helped Barcelona win a third successive Primera Division title and reach the Champions League final, which they ultimately lost to Lyon.

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