The A-League handed out their individual titles of best player of the season, top scorer or best goalkeeper and for the first time, named a type eleven of the season.
This week, the Australian league hosted its traditional end-of-season gala where individual trophies for the season are presented.
Regulation point, no supporter took part in the votes, each trophy is evaluated by professionals: former players, officials or representatives of the media are gathered to give a score of three, two or one point to a player during the disputed matches of the season . The final ranking honors the best player, the best goalkeeper, etc. At the same time, members of the Professional Players Association (PFA) and the A-League were invited to nominate their best eleven, which is therefore made up from these votes.
Already elected in 2017, Miloš Ninković was awarded the Johnny Warren medal for best player of the season alongside the Mexican and playing master of the Wellington Phoenix, Ulises Dávila. It’s historic, it’s a first, two players are elected for this title. Ninković and Dávila have collected thirty-four points, three more than Alessandro Diamanti (thirty-one points) who thus does not retain his title acquired the previous season. Next are Jamie Maclaren (29 points) and Oliver Bozanic (27 points).
The Australian international striker who just extended until 2024 with Melbourne City still grants himself his third Golden boot (top scorer of the season) with twenty-five goals in twenty-four games. Andy Keogh won the title of the most beautiful goal of the season with a loan lob of forty meters against the Western Sydney Wanderers.
???? Best video angle. Andy Keogh tried and it paid off: goal from 40 meters away. #PERvWSW pic.twitter.com/9hoBwtwj1l
— A-League France (@ALeagueFR) May 16, 2021
In the category of the best young player of the year, Joel King of the Sydney FC allows the next finalists to win the last trophy that was missing. King in his twenties has been a solid left-back and has settled in following Michael Zullo’s long injury in this position, the pecking order has changed and it will be hard to see King on the bench from next season. Andrew Redmayne, his goalkeeper, is named best goalkeeper of the season with Mark Birighitti of the Central Coast Mariners. A historic year, on two individual titles, there are two winners.
But the most fun happens when you look at the team of the season. Of the four winners sharing individual trophies, only one is Ulises Dávila. In the eleven of the year, we find Adam Federici (Macarthur FC) in goals, Scott Jamieson and Curtis Good, the two mainstays of Melbourne City. Ruon Tongyik, the revelation of the year for the Mariners, rewarded with an appeal to the Australian national team, is also present with to his right, Rhyan Grant of the Sydney FC. The midfielder is solid, Connor Metcalfe of Melbourne City associated with Oliver Bozanic and Ulises Dávila who feeds the trio Craig Noone, Jamie Maclaren, Matt Derbyshire. To coach this eleven composed almost half by Citizens, Patrick Kisnorbo on the sidelines. Assistant to Erick Mombaerts, the Australian technician continued the work of the Frenchman.
So all that remains is to close the book of the 2021 season with the finale Melbourne City – Sydney FC. To referee, Chris Beath awarded the title of best referee of the year, his second.
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