UEFA announce shortlists for Player and Coach of the Year awards

Real Madrid have a strong presence in both lists after their wonderful 2021-22 campaign.

UEFA have unveiled their shortlists for Men’s Player and Coach of the Year awards.

Real Madrid stars Karim Benzema and Thibaut Courtois are on the three-man shortlist for the Player of the Year award alongside Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.

Benzema is the favourite to win the award after playing a crucial role in Real Madrid’s incredible 2021-22 campaign.

The Blancos edged out Barcelona to claim the La Liga title before snatching the Champions League trophy with a host of sensational comebacks.

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The Frenchman didn’t score in the UCL final. But Courtois was there to put in a Man of the Match performance to defend Vinicius Junior’s winner.

The Blancos had reached the final by beating Manchester City in the semi-finals. City once again failed to claim the European title but managed to win another close title race in EPL.

De Bruyne was a key player for Pep Guardiola’s side, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists in the Premier League. The Belgian is once again on UEFA’s final shortlist for the Player of the Year award.

Guardiola, who claimed his fourth EPL trophy last season, has been nominated for the Coach of the Year prize. The Spaniard competes against Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, who led his side to an unsuccessful quadruple push.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Olivier Glasner, Villarreal’s Unai Emery, and Roma’s Jose Mourinho were the three coaches who missed out on the three-man shortlist.