You’ve made it to the British edition of ESPN. Keep the existing version or upgrade to the US version.
Chelsea’s Australian striker Sam Kerr was named Player of the Year by the Asian Football Confederation, while Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari won the male name at the regional body’s awards rite in Doha on Tuesday.
Kerr, who finished second in Monday’s Ballon d’Or voting in Paris, won her award for a second time after being named the confederation’s player of the year in 2017.
– ESPN Broadcast: LaLiga, Bundesliga, (USA)
She becomes the third woman to win the award more than once, joining Japanese duo Aya Miyama and Homare Sawa as protective champions.
“I just need to say it’s an honor to win this award, especially against some finalists,” said Kerr, who won the award ahead of China’s Zhang Linyang and Japan’s Saki Kumagai, the 2019 winner.
Al-Dawsari, who scored Saudi Arabia’s game-winning goal in the surprise 2-1 win over Argentina at last year’s World Cup, won the men’s award after leading Al Hilal to the Asian Champions League and Club World Cup finals.
The awards were held for the first time in 4 years due to the disruption of football across the continent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am very satisfied with this achievement and I would like to thank the Saudi leaders for their interest in athletes and sport,” said Al-Dawsari, who won ahead of Qatar’s Almoez Ali and Australia’s Mathew Leckie.
Japan’s Hajime Moriyasu won the Best Men’s Coach award after leading the Samurai Blue to World Cup qualifying, with victories over Germany and Spain at tournament level.
Shui Qingxia took the most sensible honours in the women’s training category after leading China to the Women’s Asian Cup last February in India, the country’s first continental name since 2006.
Reuters contributed to this report.