Huddersfield’s David Wagner wins premier league August manager of the month award

Huddersfield Town’s David Wagner won the Premier League manager’s award for the month of August.

Following an impressive start to their first Premier League campaign, Wagner has led Huddersfield Town to third in the league, behind only Manchester United and Liverpool, on seven points.

Wagner, who guided the Terriers to promotion during his first managerial campaign in England, saw his side open their Premier League account with a 3-0 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on the opening day.

Wagner, a former understudy toJurgen Klopp, then watched on as his side kept a third consecutive clean sheet during a 0-0 draw with Mauricio Pellegrino’s Southampton.

David Wagner beat a shortlist of Pep Guardiola [Manchester City], Tony Pulis [West Brom], Jurgen Klopp [Liverpool] and Jose Mourinho [Manchester United].

“It’s an honour for me but I’d like to take this award for the whole club, especially my players,” Wagner said. “I’d hoped that we would start well but I didn’t expect it! It’s only the start and now we need to be focused for the next one.”

Should Huddersfield continue their defensive record against West Ham United at the London Stadium on Monday night, they will become the first Premier League newcomers to keep four consecutive clean sheets from as many opening games.

Sturridge score but injures as Liverpool rout Bayern Munich in Audi Cup

Bayern Munich 0-3 Liverpool

Daniel Sturridge went off with a thigh injury after scoring in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Audi Cup.

The England striker, 27, scored 15 minutes after coming off the bench by chipping in the Reds’ third goal.

But he immediately pulled up and was substituted on 87 minutes, with boss Jurgen Klopp saying he hoped “it’s nothing serious”.

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah also scored as Liverpool set up a final against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

Mane slotted home the opener on six minutes after a quick breakaway by Roberto Firmino.

The Senegal forward then turned provider when he flicked the ball to Alberto Moreno, and although his effort was saved, Salah was able to nod in from close range.

Bayern offered little in attack but were in their most dominant spell when they were caught on the counter-attack and Sturridge raced forward to add a third before limping off.

Injuries have limited Sturridge to 46 league appearances in the past three seasons.

Speaking after the match, Klopp said: “He hurt his thigh. He has really prepared well, really well, so I hope this is just a small injury and that he can play again soon. “The goal was great and he had a chance just before that. You could see how fast he is.”

Liverpool, who remain unbeaten during their pre-season campaign, will play Atletico Madrid in Munich on Wednesday before their final friendly of the summer against Athletic Bilbao in Dublin on Saturday.

Ronaldo named Forbes world’s richest sportsman for the second straight year

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, with earnings of £71.8m, retains the top spot of Forbes’ highest-paid athletes list.

The top 100 earned a total of £2.40bn over the last 12 months, a slight decrease from last year’s earnings of £2.43bn. Endorsement income also experienced a bit of a decline, down 4% to £685mil this year.
Before Ronaldo, the best-paid sports star was Tiger Woods or Floyd Mayweather for 15 straight years. Woods ranks No 17 this year, while Floyd Mayweather did not make the cut, having had no fights over the last 12 months.

Ronaldo, 32, is reckoned to have earned $93 million (€82.5m, £71.7m) between his Real salary ($58m) and off-the-field endorsements ($35m) last year. Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, who was No. 2 last year, was third on the list, with calculated earnings of $80m ($53m in salary/winnings, $27m in endorsements).

The Portugal captain, who lifted his fourth Champions League title on Saturday, has a lifetime contract with Nike worth around $1 billion, and counts the likes of Tag Heuer, Herbalife, Abbott Labs as brands for whom he’s a pitchman.

Also, the former Manchester United man’s line of CR7-branded products, which includes shoes, underwear, fragrance as well as a line of hotels add additional income.
Brazil and Barcelona forward Neymar is the next footballer on the list at No. 18, earning $37m, which includes $22m in endorsements on top of his $15m salary.
The list of elite athletes consists of players from 11 different sports.

Basketball dominates with a record 32 NBA players among the top 100, up from 18 in 2016, followed by baseball with 22, American football with 15 and football with nine.
Golfer Rory McIlroy is the highest-earning Briton on the list. His $50m (£38.74m) puts him in sixth place – of that, $34m (£26.34m) came from endorsements.
Wales international Gareth Bale, Ronaldo’s Real Madrid team-mate, remains the highest-earning British footballer, with his $34m (£26.34m) putting him 24th.
World number two tennis player Serena William sis the only woman on the list, in 51st, with $27m (£20.92m) made last year.
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovicin 30th with $32m (£24.79m), is the highest-placed Premier League footballer.
The other footballers on the list are Wayne Rooney at No. 70 ($23.6m), Luis Suarez at No. 71 ($23.3m), Sergio Aguero at No. 80 ($22.6m) and James Rodriguez at No. 91 ($21.9m).

1) Cristiano Ronaldo- football ($93m/£72.05m)

2) LeBron James- basketball ($86.2m/£66.79m)

3) Lionel Messi- football ($80m/£61.98m)

4) Roger Federer- tennis ($64m/£49.58m)

5) Kevin Durant- basketball ($60.6m/£46.95m)

6) Andrew Luck- American football ($50m/£38.74m)

7) Rory McIlroy- golfer ($50m/£38.74m)

8) Stephen Curry- basketball ($47.3m/£36.64m)

9) James Harden- basketball ($46.6m/£36.10m)

10) Lewis Hamilton- formula 1 ($46m/£35.64m)

Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski voted best outfield player of the season

Bayern Munich attacker Robert Lewandowski has been voted best outfield player this season by his fellow Bundesliga players.

Lewandowski scored 30 goals in 33 appearances (31 starts) for Bayern and 25 percent of the 248 Bundesliga players voting in kicker’s poll rated him the best outfield performer over the course of the season — ahead of RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita.

Lewandowski, 28, secured his third straight Bundesliga title this season (2015, 2016, 2017), adding to successive title wins under Jurgen Klopp at former club Borussia Dortmund in 2011 and 2012.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Dortmund could only finish third, despite being voted the best performer during the first half of the season and outscoring Lewandowski 31-30 to win Kicker’s prestigious Torjagerkanone for finishing Bundesliga top scorer, aided by two goals on the final day of the season, while Lewandowski drew a blank against Freiburg.

Harry Kane wins PFA fans’ Premier League player of the Season award

Harry Kane has won the PFA Fans’ Premier League Player of the Season award, ahead of N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard.

Over 49,000 votes were cast in the poll, which was held on the Sky Sports website and apps, and Kane, who finished as the Premier League’s top goalscorer, came out on top with 16,378 votes ahead of Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, who received 13,515 votes.

Hazard, who scored 16 goals and grabbed five assists, finished third with 8,412 votes ahead of Alexis Sanchez (6,727), Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli (3,507) and Everton striker Romelu Lukaku (955).

The top six were chosen by our expert panel, which includedSky Sportspundits Paul Merson and Peter Beagrie, Mike Riley – general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials, and Malcolm Clarke – chairman of the Football Supporters’ Federation.

And it is Kane who has come out on top thanks to your votes, which have been verified by an independent party.

The 23-year-old scored 29 goals and provided seven assists to help Tottenham finish second behind champions Chelsea – their highest Premier League finish.
Kane finished as the league’s top scorer for a second successive season and his performances also saw him named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.

Chelsea’s Antonio Conte wins LMA Manager of the Year

Antonio Conte was named Manager of the Year by the League Managers Association in recognition of his title-winning first season as Chelsea head coach, at their 25th annual awards dinner on Monday night.

Conte led the Blues, who finished 10th last campaign, to the Premier League title and this weekend’s FA Cup final during his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea claimed a Premier League-record 30 victories under the stewardship of Conte, including 13 in a row from Oct. 1, to finish seven points ahead of second-placed Tottenham.
The Italian becomes only the third non-British winner of the prestigious award after Claudio Ranieri was honoured for guiding Leicester to the title last year and Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger claimed the accolade in 2002 and 2004.
Conte, also voted Premier League Manager of the Year, is the second Italian boss in two years to win the Premier League following the Foxes’ triumph.

The Championship award went to Chris Hughton for the second year running, after he led Brighton to England’s top flight.

The 58-year-old ensured the Seagulls responded to last season’s disappointment, when they lost in the play-offs to Sheffield Wednesday, by securing automatic promotion alongside his former club Newcastle.

Chris Wilder was also honoured for the second time is as many years, winning the trophy for League One Manager of the Year after he capped a superb first season in charge of Sheffield United with a top-of-the-table finish and an impressive 100 points.

Wilder was recognised for his achievements in the fourth tier at the end of last season when he guided Northampton to the title before announcing his departure from the Cobblers to join the Blades.

Paul Cook was voted the LMA League Two Manager of the Year after leading newly-promoted Portsmouth to title glory.

The LMA marked their 50th Manager of the Year award with the presentation of the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy to “the manager who has made the greatest use of the resources available in the current campaign.”

Chelsea’s Pedro wins April Goal of the month award

Chelsea forward Pedro Rodriguez has won April’s Premier League Goal of the Month award for his stunning 25-yard strike in Chelsea’s win at Everton.

Pedro’s goal was voted the best from a shortlist that also included Roberto Firmino’s superb effort for Liverpool at Stoke and a fine Dele Alli finish for Tottenham Hotspur at home to Watford.

The Spain international found the top corner with a fierce left-foot strike to put Antonio Conte’s men on course for a crucial victory in their charge towards the Premier League title.
He has contributed eight goals and eight assists in 32 Premier League appearances for Chelsea this season, and also won the November goal of the month award for a curling effort from outside the box in a 2-1 victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino wins April Manager of the month award

​Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has won April’s Manager of the Month award – his first this season.

The Argentinian helped Spurs to six consecutive Premier League victories as his side chased down Chelsea for the title last month, scoring 16 goals and conceding just once.

That goal came in a 3-1 triumph at Swansea – one of three away victories that also included 1-0 wins at Burnley and Crystal Palace.

At home, Tottenham thrashed both Bournemouth and Watford 4-0 before a 2-0 victory in the last-ever north London derby against Arsenal at White Hart Lane, which will be demolished at the end of the season to make way for their new 61,000-seater stadium.
The run came to an end in their first game in May – a defeat to West Ham all but ending their title hopes – but Pochettino’s team remain on course to finish second – their highest-ever finish in the Premier League – with a record points tally.
Pochettino last won the Premier League Manager of the Month award in February 2016.
The Spurs boss beat Marco Silva of Hull City, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, Leicester City’s Craig Shakespeare and Antonio Conte of Chelsea to the manager’s award.

Tottenham’s Heung-min Son win April Player of the Month award

Tottenham winger Heung-Min Son has been named Player of the Month for April, his second monthly award of the season, after he won the accolade in September.

Son beat teammates Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen as well as Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke, Sergio Aguero of Man City and Manchester United’s Eric Bailly to the player’s award.
The South Korea international scored five goals during Spurs’ winning run, including two goals in the home win over the Hornets.
“I’m really thankful to my team-mates,” Son told Tottenham’s official website. “This is my second time [winning the award] but I’m not finished with my second – I want to get a third one.

“It’s not just for me, I think it’s for everyone and I’m really proud of the way we played in April. We won against Arsenal, I scored many goals, we fought in every game and we conceded just one goal in the league so it’s just an unbelievable thing and I have good memories of April.

“It’s very special and I’m really, really thankful to everyone who voted for me – the Tottenham fans, the Korean fans – it makes it a special moment for me. I want to just keep going really hard now.”

2015 Ballon D’or Awards

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player for the fifth time.
The Barcelona forward reclaimed the biggest individual accolade in world football in Zurich on Monday, beating Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, the three-time winner he has been runner-up behind for the last two years.
He also finished ahead of fellow Barca frontman Neymar after a calendar year in which the Catalan outfit claimed five titles.

Argentina international Messi, who scored 48 goals for his club in 2015, said after being presented the award by 2007 Ballon d’Or winner Kaka: “It is a very special moment for me to be back here on this stage, winning again another Ballon d’Or after being there in the audience watching Cristiano win.
“It’s incredible this is my fifth. It’s much more than anything I’ve dreamed of as a kid.
“I want to thank everyone who voted for me and I want to thank my team-mates – without them none of this would be possible.
“Lastly, I want to thank football in general for everything it has brought me, both the bad and the good, because it has made me grow and learn.”

Ronaldo scored more goals than Messi over the calendar year, netting 54 for Madrid, but it was not enough for his side to win any silverware.

Messi secured 41.33 per cent of the vote, with Portugal hitman Ronaldo getting 27.76 per cent and third-placed Brazil striker Neymar 7.86 per cent.

Messi and Neymar helped Barca win the Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble in 2015, plus the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

United States midfielder Carli Lloyd claimed the women’s world player of the year gong.
Carli scored a hat-trick in the final against Japan, including a sensational strike from the halfway line. She earned the Golden Ball for best player in the tournament.
Former Germany striker Celia Sasic finished second despite retiring halfway through 2015 at the age of 27. In the first half of the year she was top scorer in the World Cup with six goals and won the Champions League with Frankfurt.
Third was Japan midfielder Aya Miyama, 30, captained her country to the World Cup final, where they lost to the USA.

Lloyd said:”It has been a dream ever since I started with the national team. Keep your dreams and just go after them.”

Barcelona’s coach Luis Enrique won the men’s world coach of the year award as he came ahead of his predecessor, Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola.
Enrique led his side to five of the six trophies on offer in 2015, including the Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Chile’s Copa America-winning coach Jorge Sampaoli came third.

In the category for world coach of the year for women’s football, England boss Mark Sampson was beaten to the award by United States counterpart Jill Ellis.
Jill led her country to World Cup glory in the summer.
Second was Japan coach Norio Sasaki, whose side beat England in the semi-finals, but lost to USA in the final.
England coach Mark Sampson finished third with 10.68% of the vote after their third-place finish in Canada.
“It is a true honour,”said Ellis.” To Fifa, to our own federation, thank you for your belief, your vision and your investment in women’s football.”

Atletico Goianiense’s Wendell Lira won the goal of the year award for a spectacular overhead kick in Brazil’s Goiano state league game against Goianesia.
Messi’s run from halfway and finish in the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao was second, with Roma full-back Alessandro Florenzi’s 55-yard goal against Barca third.

The Fair play award winner announced by Former Leeds and South Africa captain Lucas Radebe went to – all football clubs and organisations supporting refugees.

Real Madrid had as many players as Barcelona, four, in the world team of the year despite not winning a trophy.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was German champions Bayern Munich’s only representative. The Premier League was the only of Europe’s top five leagues to not have anyone in the team.

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany)

Defenders: Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain, Brazil), Marcelo (Real Madrid, Brazil), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid, Spain), Dani Alves (Barcelona, Brazil)

Midfielders: Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain), Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia), Paul Pogba (Juventus, France)

Forwards: Neymar (Barcelona, Brazil), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Portugal)

LIST OF WINNERS —–

Ballon d’or winner: Lionel Messi

2015 FIFA Female Player Of The Year: Carli Lloyd (USA)

2015 FIFA Coach Of The Year: Luis Enrique (Barcelona)

2015 FIFA Female Coach Of The Year: Jill Ellis (USA)

201 FIFA Puskas Award: Lira Wendell (Goianesia, Brazil)

GLO CAF Awards: Aubameyang crowned African Player Of The Year

Gabon and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been crowned African Footballer of the Year over Manchester City’s Yaya Toure on Thursday night.
The result ends a streak of four consecutive awards from the Confederation of African Football for the Ivorian Toure, who had won every year since 2011.
Aubameyang, who finished second to Toure a year ago, earned 143 points this time, barely edging runner-up Toure’s 136 in CAF’s rankings.
Swansea’s Ghanaian midfielder Andre Ayew finished third with 112 points.
Aubameyang becomes the first from his country, Gabon, to win the prize.
He has scored 24 goals in 23 games in all competitions this season for Dortmund. He also scored 16 Bundesliga goals in the previous campaign.

Herve Renard was named coach of the year after leading Ivory Coast to glory in the African Nations Cup.

Tanzanian Mbwana Aly Samatt was recognised as the best player on an African club, the first time a player from east African has won the award.
Samatta garnered 127 points, ahead of his TP Mazembe teammate and DR Congo goalkeeper Robert Muteba Kidiaba, who amassed 88 points. Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah trailed in third place with 63 points.

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen was named Youth Player of the Year while his countryman Etebo Peter Oghenekaro received Most Promising Talent of the Year.

Cameroonian Gaelle Enganamouit was adjudged Women’s Player of the Year becoming the first from her country to pick up the prize.

Cameroon scooped the Women’s National Team of the Year prize and DR Congo giants

TP Mazembe won Club of the Year.

Gambian Papa Bakary Gassama went home with the Referee of the Year award.

Former Ghana coach Charles Kumi Gyamfi and Cameroonian Samuel Mbappe Leppe were honoured posthumously in the African Legend category.

The Full List

African Player Of The Year:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)

For the African Player of the Year – Based in Africa:
Mbwana Aly Samatta (Tanzania)

Women’s Player Of The Year:
Gaelle Enganamouit (Cameroon)

Coach Of The Year:
Herve Renard

National Team Of The Year:
Ivory Coast – ‘Les Elephants’

Club Of The Year:
TP Mazembe

Youth Player Of The Year-
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)

Most Promising Talent Of The Year:
Etebo Peter Oghenekaro (Nigeria)

African Legends:
Charles Kumi Gyamfi (Ghana)
Samuel Mbappe Leppe (Cameroon)

Referee Of The Year:
Papa Bakary Gassama (Gambia)

Javier Hernandez wins Bundesliga Player Of The Month award again

Bayer Leverkusen striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has been named Bundesliga player of the month for December, the second consecutive month that the Mexican international has received the honour.
Hernandez scored five times for Leverkusen in December, or once every 52 minutes — the best rate in the league.

That man again! @bayer04_enstar @CH14_is Player of the Month for December! More here: https://t.co/ArrVQpz5sY pic.twitter.com/MzGkT6g9LB—

Bundesliga (@Bundesliga_EN) December 30, 2015

Hernandez, 27, completed a hat trick in his side’s 5-0 rout of Borussia Monchengladbach and added a goal each against Hertha Berlin and Ingolstadt.

The former Manchester United man also scored in all five games that Leverkusen played in December, including a Champions League draw against Barcelona and a German Cup win over Unterhaching.
He has scored 11 goals in the Bundesliga and 19 in all competitions since joining his new club in the summer.

It is the first time a Mexican will be winning the award back to back.

Leicester’s Vardy wins November award

 

Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy has been named November’s Premier League Player of the Month.

Vardy wins the accolade for the second successive time after sealing October’s prize, having continued his scoring run in consecutive games to break Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s Premier League record and extend it to 11 matches.

 

The 28-year-old forward, who recently made his England debut, has been in superb form this season with 14 goals in all competitions.

Vardy has beaten fellow England forwards Harry Kane and Ross Barkley to his prize, as well as Troy Deeney, Romelu Lukaku and Dejan Lovren.

Ranieri wins November award

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has been named November’s Premier League Manager of the Month.

Ranieri took Leicester back to the top of the Premier League with victory over Swansea last weekend a position they hit during an impressive unbeaten November which saw them record wins away to Newcastle, at home to Watford, and a 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
The award will boost the Italian further ahead of his first Premier League clash with former club Chelsea, from whom he was sacked in 2004, on Monday evening.

Ranieri was up against Jurgen Klopp, who had been on a run of four straight wins with Liverpool, Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino and Everton boss Roberto Martinez.

Wenger wins Barclays Manager Of The Month

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been named the Barclays Premier League Manager of the Month for October.

Wenger led his side to four wins from four games in October to claim his 15th monthly prize in England.

Arsenal netted 11 goals in those four games, conceding just once.

The Gunners defeated United and Swansea in comfortable 3-0 victories.

Watford also had no response when they were beaten by a three-goal margin at Vicarage Road while Everton fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.

He beat off competition from Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri and City’s Manuel Pellegrini.

Wenger is the Premier League’s second-most successful manager of all time when it comes to the monthly awards, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s record of 27 prizes the only one to better the Frenchman (15).

David Moyes, who was sacked by La Liga side Real Sociedad on Monday, sits third on 10 while Harry Redknapp and Martin O’Neill have eight each. Wenger’s great rival Jose Mourinho has three.

“It is always good because it just reminds you that – especially after a defeat like we had on Wednesday night [5-1 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich] – we have not done too badly in the last month,” Wenger said.

“You worry as well about maintaining the run for coming months. That is what we want to do always.”

When asked about that emphatic victory over United, Wenger added: “That was the highlight because there are very few matches in your life where it all clicks perfectly in the first 20 minutes and that is one of the games.

“We had a difficult start against West Ham and after that we have responded very well and are now on a good run. Our target of course is to maintain it.”