IFFHS AWARDS 2006

Zinedine Zidane received the first Award of THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYMAKER in 2006.

The IFFHS decided to add a new Award in 2006 : THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYMAKER to reward the players who direct the team’s offensive play and are often involved in passing moves which leads to goals, through their vision, technique, creativity and ability. So 9 awards were determined in 2006.

THE WORLD’S BEST GOALKEEPER 2006               (by IFFHS)

1 – Gianluigi BUFFON                               (Italy/FC Juventus)                         295 points

2 – Jens LEHMANN                         (Germany/Arsenal FC)                             140 points

3 – Petr CECH                       (Czech Republic/FC Chelsea)                                91 points

Third IFFHS Award for Buffon, winner of the World Cup 2006 with Italy. Third place for Peter Cech, in company of Raymond Kopa and Just Fontaine, Legends of France.

THE WORLD’S BEST REFEREE 2006              (by IFFHS)

1 – Horacio Marcelo ELIZONDO                       (Argentina)                      159 points

2 – Lubos MICHEL                                           (Slovakia)                                69 points

3 – Markus MERK                                            (Germany)                              60 points

Horacio Marcelo Elizondo honoured at a Gala in Salzburg (Austria)

CLUB WORLD RANKING 2006                   (by IFFHS)

1 – SEVILLA FC                            (Spain)                              295,00 points

2 – FC INTER                               (Italy)                                 286,00 points

3 – FC ROMA                                (Italy)                                277,00 points

4 – MILAN AC                               (Italy)                               268,00 points

4 – FC BARCELONA                    (Spain)                              268,00 points

Sevilla FC honoured in Salzburg with club coach Juande Ramos.

THE STRONGEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD 2006               (by IFFHS)

1 – ITALY                             Serie A                                                   1,182

2 – SPAIN                            La Liga                                                   1,068

3 – ENGLAND                    Premier League                                  1,025

Award number 10 for Italian’s Serie A

THE WORLD’S BEST TOP GOAL SCORER 2006                 (by IFFHS)

1 – Humberto SUAZO                    (CSD Colo Colo /Chile)                               17 goals

2 – Peter CROUCH                      (FC Liverpool/England)                                 16 goals

3 – Mohamed ABOUTREIKA       (National SC Cairo/Egypt)                          14 goals

Humberto Suazo honoured in Salzburg, Mohamed Aboutreika in Egypt.

THE WORLD’S BEST NATIONAL COACH 2006                 (by IFFHS)

1 – Marcello LIPPI                                (Italy)                                      298 points

2 – Raymond DOMENECH                (France)                                   132 points

3 – Jürgen KLINSMANN                    (Germany)                               123 points

Marcello Lippi won the Gold Award, Raymond Domenech received the Silver Trophy.

THE WORLD’S BEST CLUB COACH 2006                  (by IFFHS)

1 – Franklin RIJKAARD                        (Netherlands/FC Barcelona)                       236 points

2 – José MOURINHO                           (Portugal/FC Chelsea)                                    113 points

3 – Juande la Cruz RAMOS Cano        (Spain/FC Sevilla)                                           92 points

Frank Rijkaard and his team happy with the IFFHS award in Barcelona, José Mourinho received the Silver Trophy in Salzburg from Giovanni Trappatoni.

THE WORLD’S BEST TOP DIVISION GOAL SCORER 2006                 (by IFFHS)

1 – Klaas Jan HUNTELAAR                          (Netherlands/SC Heerenveen/Ajax Amsterdam)            35 goals

2 – Humberto SUAZO                              (Chile/CSD Colo Colo)                                                                  34 goals

2 – Alfredo Cristiano BAMIN                       (Real Potosi/Paraguay)                                                         34 goals

Klaas Jan Huntelaar honoured in Amsterdam.

THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYMAKER 2006                      (by IFFHS)

1 – Zinedine ZIDANE                              (France/Real Madrid CF)                161 points

2 – RONALDINHO                                   (Brazil/FC Barcelona)                       139 points

3 -Andrea PIRLO                                     (Italy/Milan AC)                                    92 points

Zinedine Zidane with the Award in Switzerland.