Emerton lands Oceania honour
Monday, March 10, 2003
Article summary
Feyenoord's Brett Emerton was named Oceania's Footballer of the Year on Monday.
Article body
Australia's Brett Emerton was named Oceania's Footballer of the Year on Monday.
Annual poll
Midfield player Emerton, who plays for Eredivisie club Feyenoord in the Netherlands, topped the annual poll, which is conducted by leading coaches, officials and media from the Oceania region.
Surprise win
Emerton scored in Australia's surprise 3-1 victory over FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists England last month. Last year's poll winner, Leeds United AFC forward Harry Kewell, finished second this time around with Middlesbrough FC goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer third.
Success in Rotterdam
Emerton joined Feyenoord from Sydney Olympic in summer 2000. After a successful first season in Rotterdam, he played all six of the club's UEFA Champions League games in 2001/02 before impressing in their UEFA Cup wins against Rangers FC, PSV Eindhoven and Internazionale FC. However, he missed Feyenoord's 3-2 win in the 2002 UEFA Cup final against BV Borussia Dortmund through suspension having been booked for time-wasting in the semi-final second leg against Inter.
International honour
A senior international since 1998, Emerton represented his country at the Sydney Olympics and then helped the Socceroos to third place at the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup. Though used as a right wing-back by Feyenoord, Emerton can also operate as a right or central midfield player. It was as a right-sided midfielder that Emerton was recently shortlisted for uefa.com users' 2002 Team of the Year.
