Pep Guardiola proclaimed himself “lucky” after claiming two Global Soccer awards on Sunday night.
The Bayern Munich coach, who won two Champions League and three La Liga titles with Barcelona, was named the Most Successful Coach, as well as the Best Media Attraction in Football.
While Franck Ribery won the Globe Soccer Player of the Year after his exploits in 2013 with Bayern Munich and French national team, Spanish midfielder Xavier Hernandez and the now-retired Portuguese star Deco were honoured with Globe Soccer Player Career Awards.
Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo was voted the Fans’ Favourite, an award that was presented to him on Saturday when he inaugurated the eighth Dubai International Sports Conference.
Bayern Munich was chosen Globe Soccer’s Best Club of the Year. The Champions League winners were chosen by an international jury ahead of Chelsea and Juventus, winners of last two Serie A titles – the other two shortlisted teams.
After picking up his second award for the night, Guardiola said: “I am a lucky guy. I am lucky to have such great players in my teams and I am lucky to have the support of such great clubs.”
After being named the Best Media Attraction in Football, Guardiola said it was an important role of the coaches and players to make sure they keep football entertaining and attractive for fans and media.
Juventus boss Antonio Conte, who has guided his team to two successive Serie A titles and to the top of the table again this season, was declared the Globe Soccer Best Coach of the Year.
UAE national coach Mahdi Ali, who has guided the team to Gulf Cup triumph and now into the 2015 Asian Cup, was named the Best Coach in the GCC. Mahdi was handed the award by Fabio Capello, the legendary Italian and current coach of the Russian national team.
“It was a great season for us and it gives us a lot of confidence going into 2014. I would like to dedicate this award to my entire team that has made this possible,” said Mahdi.
Well-known Italian agent Giovanni Branchini, instrumental in bringing Guardiola to Bayern Munich and someone who has managed several superstars in the game, was honoured with ‘Agent Career’ Award, while Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes was named the ‘Best Agent of the Year’.
Mendes, who also worked out Jose Mourinho’s move to Chelsea this year, won the award for a record fifth time. Italy’s Alarico Rossi was named the Best Fan of the Year.
Rossi, who coaches youth teams, believes scoring goals is not the only thing you can learn in football, and submitted the winning slogan (Scoring is not the only goal) that won him the award.
