Eriksen, retiring Søndergaard Pedersen honoured

Two players at opposite ends of their careers were honoured in Copenhagen on Monday night, with 21-year-old Christian Eriksen was named Danish player of the year while Katrine Søndergaard Pedersen accepted the women's equivalent by confirming her retirement.

Now 36, the Denmark captain is pregnant and has called time on a career that has brought 210 international caps since she made her debut in 1994. "I have played in the national team for 20 years, more than half of my life, and the older I get the more privileged I feel about the football life I have been allowed to live," a visibly moved Pedersen said. "I would like to thank everyone who made it such an adventure."

Tottenham Hotspur FC midfielder Eriksen, who was two when centre-back Pedersen made her international bow, took the men's award for the second time following his first in 2011. Cardiff City AFC forward Andreas Cornelius was named young player of the year, with Stine Pedersen of IK Skovbakken collecting the women's equivalent.

Jess Thorup, now Denmark Under-21 boss, was named coach of the year after his achievements with Esbjerg fB last season, leading the Superliga newcomers to Danish Cup success and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League. "It is big when your colleagues, the coaches in the Superliga as well as in the 1 and 2 Divisions vote for you," he said. "It shows that I have been able to give something back to the football."