Ibrahimović named Sweden's best for eighth time
Monday, November 11, 2013
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Zlatan Ibrahimović has been named Sweden's player of the year for the eighth time, his seventh in succession – no other player has received the accolade more than twice.
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Zlatan Ibrahimović has been named Sweden's player of the year for the eighth time, his seventh Golden Ball in succession.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who is preparing with the national team ahead of their FIFA World Cup play-off against Portugal, was hailed by the jury as "a true champion who through charisma, maturity and technical superiority has taken the next step to the top of the world." No other player has received the accolade more than twice since its inception in 1946.
Lotta Schelin, 29, continued her own domination of the female prize, collecting the Diamond Ball for a fourth time and third in a row. The forward, like Ibrahimović based in France, at Olympique Lyonnais, inspired Sweden to third at UEFA Women's EURO 2013 on home turf this summer.
Other awards
Goalkeeper of the year: Andreas Isaksson (Kasımpaşa SK) / Thóra Helgadóttir (FCR Malmö)
Defender: Martin Olsson (Norwich City FC) / Nilla Fischer (Linköpings FC/VfL Wolfsburg)
Midfielder: Albin Ekdal (Cagliari Calcio) / Ramona Bachmann (FCR Malmö)
Forward: Zlatan Ibrahimović (Paris Saint-Germain) / Lotta Schelin (Olympique Lyonnais)
Coach: Rikard Norling (Malmö FF) / Jonas Eidevall (FCR Malmö)
Newcomer: Melker Hallberg (Kalmar FF) / Jessica Samuelsson (Linköpings FC)
Most valuable player Allsvenskan/Damallsvenskan: Tobias Hysén (IFK Göteborg) / Ramona Bachmann (FCR Malmö)
Goal: Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden v England)
Honorary award: Lars-Åke Lagrell (former Swedish Football Association president)
