Alaba named Austria's Footballer of the Year
Austria - FC Bayern München defender David Alaba has been honoured once again by his home country, being named Austrian Footballer of the Year for the third time in a row.
'Great honour'
The 21-year-old was voted Austrian Sportsman of the Year in October after helping Bayern to a quadruple of trophies in 2012/13, including the UEFA Champions League. This season, he has also been ever present, helping the Bavarians lift the UEFA Super Cup and reach the of the FIFA Club World Cup.
“I’m delighted to receive such a great honour and I’d like to say a massive thank-you to all my coaches,” said the Vienna-born left-back, who signed a contract extension with the record titleholders. “You never get used to winning accolades like this. It’s always something special and I’m always happy about moments like these.”
The decision was made by the ten coaches of the Austrian Bundesliga, with the award handed over by the Austria Press Agency (APA). Alaba is the first person since 1984 to win the vote of all ten coaches, and becomes the first man in history to receive the prize in three consecutive years. He has now moved level with Herbert Prohaska and is one behind record winner Ivica Vastic.
'Will only get better'
“It doesn’t really get any better than this year,” Alaba went on, referencing a year that yielded four trophies in the most successful year in FC Bayern’s illustrious history. His coach Pep Guardiola had lent Alaba his complete backing for the award, saying, “He’s un an unbelievable person: modest, a good guy, never injured. And he’s still young and will only get better.”
