UEFA unveils top three nominees for 2021/22 Men’s Player of the Year | OneFootball

UEFA has released its top three nominees for the 2021/22 Player of the Year.

The nominees are; Karim Benzema, Kevin De Bruyne, and Thibaut Courtois.

Benzema is the betting man’s favourite for this award after finishing the top scorer in the UEFA Champions League campaign with 15 goals in 12 games, leading his side to the title.

Benzema also had a colossal domestic campaign, scoring 27 goals and assisting 12 more as Carlo Ancelotti’s side won La Liga.

De Bruyne was the main talisman of the Manchester City side that reached the semifinal of the Champions League. He is nominated for the third season in a row.

The 31-year-old Premier League player of the year was in inspired form for The Citizens as they won the Premier League title. The Belgian playmaker finished the season with 19 goals and 14 assists in 49 appearances.

Thibaut Courtois kept a clean sheet in the final of the Champions League to help Madrid win their title. He made several stunning saves in that tie. Courtois denied Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to earn a well-deserved man-of-the-match award.

The Belgian shot-stopper kept 16 clean sheets to help Madrid win the league.

UEFA also announced Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti, and Pep Guardiola as Coach of the Year nominees.

Jurgen Klopp led Liverpool to a domestic double. He was one point off City for the Premier League and reached the Champions League final.

Pep Guardiola retained his Premier League title. His 10th league title in management.

Carlo Ancelotti, with his double, became the first manager to win four Champions League finals. He is also the first to win a league title in Europe’s top five divisions. On Wednesday, he became the first manager to win four UEFA Super Cup finals.

The winner will be named during the UEFA Champions League group stage draw ceremony in Istanbul on Thursday, 25th of August.

The nominees for the UEFA Women’s Player and Coach of the Year awards will be announced next week.