Karim Benzema and Rudi Garcia named best player and coach of France – Ligue 1 news
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and LOSC Lille coach Rudi Garcia have been voted the best French player and coach of the year 2011 respectively.
A good year certainly has its rewards for both players and managers. January 2012 will announce the outcome of the winner of the Ballon d’Or but before that, French sports magazine France Football has revealed in its edition, this year’s best French player
and best French coach of the year.
The awards list is certainly not surprising as players and clubs who did well this year have been duly rewarded for their efforts.
The jury was made up of former winners of this trophy. Former France international and Real Madrid legend Raymond Kopa who won the award in 1960 and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Samir-Nasri-c32360 who won the award last year were in the jury.
Real Madrid hitman Karim Benzema (155 votes) was head and shoulders above fellow nominees Eric Abidal (69), Les Bleus goalkeeper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hugo-Lloris-c16408 (69) and won the award for the best French player in 2011.
For the first time since 2006 (http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thierry-Henry-c34918), the award has been given to a striker.
Transformed under Jose Mourinho’s tutelage at Real Madrid, the striker is now the spearhead of Laurent Blanc’s France national side.
“Compared to this year, I have done well. I started well in January. I followed up games and put more purpose to my efforts for both club and Les Bleus. For me, 2011 is the most accomplished year since I have been at Real Madrid,” Benzema said while talking
to FFF.
As for coaches, reigning Ligue 1 champions LOSC Lille coach Rudi Garcia was awarded the best French coach of 2011. The French tactician beat off competition from Rene Girard and Laurent Blanc with 119 votes.
Lille won the 2010/2011 Ligue 1 Championelle after almost five decades and the club recorded its first domestic double in almost 60 years which is a great achievement for both the club and the coach.
The winners are as follows:
Player of the year: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Karim-Benzema-c20350
Club of the year: Lille
Club official of the year: Michel Seydoux (Lille)
Best policy for young players: Montpellier
Exploit of the year: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130 for Champions League progression against Dinamo Zagreb
Revelation of the year: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marvin-Martin-c24496 (Sochaux)
Best foreign player: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Eden-Hazard-c11863 (Lille)
Game of the year: Women’s World Cup 2011 – http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 (3-4 on penalties)
Referee of the year: Clement Turpin
Best recruitment policy: Paris Saint-Germain
Ligue 2 Best player: Jean-Francoise Riviere (Clermont Foot)
Best Ligue 2 club: Reims
Best Ligue 2 coach: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michel-c25453 Der Zakarian (Clermont Foot)
Orange Prize: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rio-Mavuba-c31174 (Lille)
Lemon Prize: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Yoann-Gourcuff-c37416 (Lyon)
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