Surprise of the night: Petr Čech isn't Footballer of the Year 2017!
On 19 March, the luxurious awards ceremony for the Footballer of the Year 2017 poll took place in the Vinohrady Theatre. Many expected the goalkeeper Petr Čech to win the tenth luxurious statuette, as per usual. But this year, the award was “snagged” by twenty-seven-year-old Vladimír Darida, who won it for the first time in his career.
The Czech Football Associated has nominated the Hertha Berlin six times.
The first time he was eleventh, then third, fourth, third and in 2016 he was second. This year he traded places with Čech for the first time. The young footballer, who has regularly featured on the national team since 2012, admitted: “Winning the award and beating Petr Čech is a great honour for me.”
Darida is only the second footballer to beat the poll leader Petr Čech. In 2014, it was David Lafata, who took lead in the poll for a year.
An interesting fact is that Darida was never spoken of as a major talent. He reached the top through his own determination and hard work.
“I consider the award to be recognition of all the hard work, but also a motivation for the future,” he said immediately after the announcement of the new Footballer of the Year.
The evening’s triumph came as a surprise to the winner, and even more so to his partner Kateřina. “I’m proud of him,” admitted Kateřina, whom he met two years ago. “At the football stadium, she did an interview with me,” Darida said in the past to the Bild daily newspaper. His girlfriend is a reporter for the O2 TV Sport channel.
Pavel Vrba of Pilsen took home the award for Coach of the Year, Jakub Jankto of Udine was announced as the greatest talent. Striker Michael Krmenčík of Pilsen and coach Václav Jílek of Olomouc took away the award for Leap of the Year. The best female footballer of the year was once again Lucie Voňková of Bayern Munich.
Footballer of the Year 2017 poll:
Footballer of the Year: 1. Vladimír Darida (Hertha Berlin) 542 b., 2. Petr Čech (Arsenal) 433, 3. Michael Krmenčík (Pilsen) 345
Coach of the Year: 1. Pavel Vrba (Pilsen) 407, 2. Jaroslav Šilhavý (Slavia Prague) 348, 3. Václav Jílek (Olomouc) 195
Talent of the Year: 1. Jakub Jankto (Udine) 654, 2. Michal Sáček (Sparta Prague) 248, 3. Martin Graiciar (Liberec) 167
Female Footballer of the Year: 1. Lucie Voňková (Jena/Bayern Munich) 181, 2. Eva Bartoňová 161, 3. Kateřina Svitková (both Slavia Prague) 151
