UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe shortlist
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
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Four stars of 1. FFC Frankfurt's UEFA Women's Champions League winners are on the shortlist for the 2014/15 UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe Award.
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Four stars of 1. FFC Frankfurt's successful UEFA Women's Champions League campaign – and 2013 winner Nadine Angerer – have made the shortlist for the 2014/15 UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe Award, with the winner to be decided in a live vote on 28 August.
The shortlist has been selected by the coaches of the eight teams that took part in last season's UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finals, together with the eight coaches of the European sides which participated at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. The first UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe Award was given to Germany goalkeeper Angerer in 2013, with Nadine Kessler of VfL Wolfsburg being honoured last term.
The jury for the second round of voting is chosen by the ESM group and will be composed of 18 journalists committed to supporting women's football, with the final three nominees scheduled to be revealed on Wednesday 12 August. The same jury will then cast their votes live during the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on 28 August, with an electronic system used to determine the outright winner.
Twelve players have been included in what is usually a ten-woman shortlist due to three being ranked tenth on equal points. The nominees, in alphabetical order, are:
Nadine Angerer (Germany – Portland Thorns FC)
• Germany goalkeeper who won the inaugural UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe Award in 2013
• Called time on her international career after World Cup finals having made 146 Germany appearances
Ramona Bachmann (Switzerland – FC Rosengård)
• Swiss forward completed back-to-back Swedish title successes with Rosengård in 2014
• Reached UEFA Women's Champions League last eight with club, and scored one of World Cup's best goals with Switzerland
Verónica Boquete (Spain – 1. FFC Frankfurt, now FC Bayern München)
• Losing finalist with Tyresö in 2014, striker helped Frankfurt win UEFA Women's Champions League in first season in Germany
• UEFA women's development ambassador captained Spain at World Cup, and signed for Bayern München for the new season
Amandine Henry (France – Olympique Lyonnais)
• Defensive midfielder awarded Silver Ball for her showings at the 2015 World Cup finals
• Lifted her eighth successive French title with Lyon, and helped her side get to last 16 in Europe
Simone Laudehr (Germany – 1. FFC Frankfurt)
• Midfielder typically propulsive as Frankfurt won the UEFA Women's Champions League
• Helped Germany progress to World Cup semi-finals, taking her cap tally to 94
Eugénie Le Sommer (France – Olympique Lyonnais)
• High-scoring attacking midfielder named France's player of the season for 2014/15
• Claimed her fifth straight French title; scored three as France advanced to World Cup last eight
Wendie Renard (France – Olympique Lyonnais)
• Martinique-born central defender and one-club woman secured her ninth French league title
• Solid as France made World Cup quarter-finals; named in FIFA's fans' team of the tournament
Dzsenifer Marozsán (Germany – 1.FFC Frankfurt)
• Skilful Hungarian-born midfielder won her first UEFA Women's Champions League, starring in the final
• Scored in the round of 16 as Germany went on to contest World Cup semi-finals
Anja Mittag (Germany – FC Rosengård, now Paris Saint-Germain)
• Picked up second Swedish title in a row with Rosengård, and reached European last eight with club
• Striker registered five goals in Canada for Germany to finish the tournament with the Bronze Boot
Alexandra Popp (Germany – VfL Wolfsburg)
• German Cup success some consolation for striker/zookeeper as Wolfsburg failed to win third straight UEFA Women's Champions League
• Featured in UEFA Women's Champions League and World Cup semi-finals, with Wolfsburg and Germany respectively
Célia Šašić (Germany – 1. FFC Frankfurt, now retired)
• Dynamic forward scored opener as Frankfurt beat Paris 2-1 in UEFA Women's Champions League final
• Given Golden Boot after scoring six times and managing one assist – in fewer minutes than United States striker Carli Lloyd – at World Cup in final career matches
Caroline Seger (Sweden – Paris Saint-Germain)
• Midfielder helped steer Paris to UEFA Women's Champions League final, but suspended for decider
• Intelligent player captained Sweden as they made it to World Cup round of 16
In total, 35 players received votes in the initial poll (those not in the final shortlist are named below in order of how they finished):
13= Shirley Cruz Traña (CRC – Paris Saint-Germain)
13= Stephanie Houghton (ENG – Manchester City WFC)
13= Louisa Nécib (FRA – Olympique Lyonnais)
16= Élodie Thomis (FRA – Olympique Lyonnais)
16= Fara Williams (ENG – Liverpool LFC)
18= Laure Boulleau (FRA – Paris Saint-Germain)
18= Lucy Bronze (ENG – Liverpool LFC and Manchester City WFC)
18= Kim Little (SCO – Seattle Reign FC)
18= Lotta Schelin (SWE – Olympique Lyonnais)
18= Lia Wälti (SUI – 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam)
23= Camille Abily (FRA – Olympique Lyonnais)
23= Lena Goessling (GER – VfL Wolfsburg)
23= Kheira Hamraoui (FRA – Paris Saint-Germain)
23= Tabea Kemme (GER – 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam)
23= Nadine Kessler (GER – VfL Wolfsburg)
23= Manon Melis (NED – Göteborg FC)
23= Maren Mjelde (NOR – Göteborg FC and Avaldsnes IL)
30= Karen Bardsley (ENG – Manchester City WFC)
30= Anna Blässe (GER – VfL Wolfsburg)
30= Kerstin Garefrekes (GER – 1. FFC Frankfurt)
30= Caroline Graham Hansen (NOR – VfL Wolfsburg)
30= Marie-Laure Delie (FRA – Paris Saint-Germain)
30= Jodie Taylor (ENG – Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns FC)