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Austria’s Footballer of the Year 2021 is David Alaba. The Real Madrid player prevailed in the election conducted by the APA among the twelve Bundesliga coaches with 44 points clearly ahead of Karim Adeyemi (Red Bull Salzburg/25) and Christoph Baumgartner (Hoffenheim/8). For Alaba, this is the eighth time in total that he has been voted Footballer of the Year, making him the superior record holder.
According to the Austrian Presss Agency, Alaba is very grateful for the title. “My thanks go to everyone who voted for me, but also to my teammates and coaches who have contributed to me receiving this award. It has a high value for me.”
The 29-year-old was champion with FC Bayern this year, winning his 27th and last trophy with the Munich club before moving on to Real on a transfer deal. At the “Königlichen” Alaba immediately advanced to the leading player in the central defense. Of the first 23 games this season, he missed only one due to muscle problems, in all other matches Alaba was in the starting lineup and was substituted only twice. So far he has scored two goals, including one in the 2-1 away win in the “Clasico” against FC Barcelona.
For Real, things have been going brilliantly with the ÖFB star so far. In the league, they are sovereign leaders, in the Champions League succeeded as a group winner in the round of 16, where now Paris Saint-Germain awaits. In addition, Alaba and the Austrian Football Federation (ÖFB) team made it to the last 16 of the European Championships this year, where they only reached the final after extra time against the eventual champions Italy. Currently, the left-footer has to take a break due to a coronavirus infection.
Seven of twelve league coaches put Alaba at number one, including Salzburg’s Matthias Jaissle. “Not only is he a great footballer, his move from Bayern Munich to Real Madrid actually says a lot about that. And because I played together with him at Hoffenheim I also know that he’s a really good guy,” the Jaissle explained.
“He is a constant and already had an enormously high value at Bayern. The way he is now a regular player and leader at Real Madrid right from the start after changing clubs is impressive. And we’re not just talking about any club,” Rapid coach Ferdinand Feldhofer said.
Manfred Schmid described Alaba as “an outstanding soccer ambassador for Austria for many years. He plays at the very highest level for world clubs like Bayern or Real, is a leading player everywhere, has an incredible mentality and is an extraordinary personality on and off the pitch.”
Admira’s Andreas Herzog also voted for Alaba. “He was a top player at Bayern Munich, won the title once again in a commanding manner at the end. Now he is at Real Madrid and also already a top player. In addition, he reached the round of 16 for the first time at the European Championship with the ÖFB team.”
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