Serie A Players’ 'Oscar’ Shortlist Revealed
Cassano, De Rossi, Del Piero, Ibrahimovic, Kaka and Milito are vying for the Best Player gong for 2008-09.
Jan 12, 2010 11:08:38 AM
The AIC (Italian Footballers' Association) has announced the nominees for the 2010 'Oscar del Calcio’ award which honours the outstanding players of the 2008-09 season.
Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano, Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi and Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero are in the running for the Best Italian Player accolade.
Forme Inter ace Zlatan Ibrahimovic, ex-Milan star Kaka and Argentine hitman Diego Milito, who moved from Genoa to Inter last summer, compete for the Best Foreign Player prize.
The winners of the two categories will then vie for the title of Best Serie A Player for 2008-09.
Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon and Inter shot-stopper Julio Cesar will fight it out for the Best Goalkeeper award, while Portuguese boss Jose Mourinho is hot favourite to land the Best Manager award after guiding the Nerazzurri to the Serie A title in his maiden season in Italy.
The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Milan on January 18.
Full list of nominees:
Best Italian Player
Antonio Cassano, Daniele De Rossi, Alessandro Del Piero
Best Foreign Player
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kaka, Diego Milito
Best Young Player
Mario Balotelli, Alexandre Pato, Davide Santon
Best Goalkeeper
Gianluigi Buffon, Julio Cesar, Federico Marchetti
Best Defender
Giorgio Chiellini, Maicon, Paolo Maldini
Best Manager
Massimiliano Allegri, Gianpiero Gasperini, Jose Mourinho
Best Referee
Emidio Morganti, Nicola Rizzoli, Roberto Rosetti