Nedved Wins World Soccer Player of Year Award
Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved of Juventus has been named as the World Player of the Year in a poll by readers of the magazine World Soccer.
Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved of Juventus has been named as the World Player of the Year in a poll by readers of the magazine World Soccer.
The 31-year-old gained more than a third of the votes in the magazine's 22nd annual poll after a series of outstanding performances for Juventus as they retained the Italian League title and reached the Champions League Final in May.
Nedved, linked Thursday by London's Sun newspaper with a move to Chelsea in the transfer window, missed the final through suspension after being booked in the semi-final, when his spectacular performance was a major factor in the defeat of competition favorites Real Madrid.
Juventus lost the final on penalties to AC Milan, winners of World Soccer's Team of the Year award and coached by Carlo Ancelotti, the magazine's World Manager of the Year.
Nedved topped the player poll in front of Ruud Van Nistelrooy of Manchester United and the Netherlands and Raul of Real Madrid and Spain.
French international striker Thierry Henry of Arsenal, favorite to win FIFA's World Player of the Award next week, finished fifth.