UEFA President's Award
The UEFA President's Award recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities. The accolade, first introduced by UEFA in 1998, is usually awarded annually to a football personality who is deemed to have advanced the game's development and success.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0255-0f8e705cf955-a181275bddd8-1000--uefa-president-s-award/|title=UEFA President's Award|publisher=UEFA|date=2 January 2014|access-date=1 June 2017}}{{cite news |title=David Beckham: Uefa to honour former England captain with President's Award |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45257336 |access-date=21 August 2018 |publisher=UEFA}}
The 2021 UEFA President's Award went to Denmark's national football team captain and their medical and coaching staff for their heroic response when Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during a Euro 2020 match against Finland. During the game, Eriksen collapsed unexpectedly, and his teammates quickly formed a protective circle around him to shield him from the cameras, providing privacy while the medical team performed life-saving CPR. Denmark’s captain, Simon Kjær, played a crucial role in comforting Eriksen’s partner and directing the team to support each other. The medical team’s swift response saved Eriksen’s life, and their professionalism and composure were widely praised.
Recently, Eric Cantona has become infamous for his bizarre acceptance speech for the 2019 UEFA Presidents Award. Dressed in a flat cap, he began by quoting William Shakespeare's King Lear – "As flies to wanton boys we are for the gods" – before referencing science, war and crime.{{cite news |title=Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi & Eric Cantona light up Uefa awards |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49516474 |website=BBC Sport |date=30 August 2019 |access-date=30 August 2019 }}
Winners
References
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External links
- [http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/president/news/newsid=2474521.html UEFA Presidential Award at UEFA.org]
{{UEFA President's Award}}