The end of the championship is fast approaching. Soon, football and Ligue 1 fans will know the players who will make a lasting mark on this 2021-2022 season.
Every year since its inception in 1987, the UNFP Trophy (National Union of Professional Footballers) honors the major figures of the Ligue 1, Ligue 2, women’s football, and refereeing seasons.
Several categories are represented: best player/goalkeeper/coach/prospect of L1, best French player abroad, best player/goalkeeper/coach/prospect of L2, best player of women’s D1.
The list of nominees was announced yesterday, and OGC Nice fans must have smiled upon discovering it, as 3 players from Nice are nominated in 3 different categories.
Among the nominees for the best goalkeeper of Ligue 1, we find Walter Benitez. The vice-captain of the Gym has had another excellent season, possibly the best of his career with 14 matches without conceding a goal. It is the best total in the championship, far ahead of Rajkovic, Nubel, and Sels who have 11. With this statistic, the Argentine naturalized French a few months ago could well claim the title of best goalkeeper.
Moving on to the category that will reward the best coach of Ligue 1, it is no surprise that the Azurean coach Christophe Galtier is featured. A two-time holder of the title, the French champion coach last season with LOSC has left his mark on the Gym. If Nice finished second in the first half of the championship and is currently qualified in the European Cup, Galtier has played a major role. Nevertheless, the coach from Marseille will face strong competitors: Julien Stéphan, who has done a remarkable job at Strasbourg (4th), Bruno Génésio who has made Rennes (3rd) an offensive powerhouse, and Jorge Sampaoli who has brought OM (2nd) back to the top level.
Finally, the last Nice player who could potentially win a title is Khephren Thuram. The son of the great Lilian has taken on a new dimension under Galtier’s leadership. Hyperactive and a leader on the field, he has been decisive on several occasions this season (4 goals and 3 assists). Once again, the competition will be tough, notably with the central defenders of the two Olympic teams: the former Aiglon William Saliba, now an indisputable starter at Marseille, and Castello Lukeba, one of the only satisfactions this season at Lyon.
Mark your calendars for May 15 for the ceremony and perhaps see one or more Nice players win a prize!
The full list of nominees:
- Best player of Ligue 1: Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Wissam Ben Yedder (AS Monaco), Lucas Paqueta (OL), Dimitri Payet (OM), Martin Terrier (25 years old, Stade Rennais FC)
- Best goalkeeper of Ligue 1: Walter Benitez (OGC Nice), Pau Lopez (OM), Matz Sels (RC Strasbourg Alsace), Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG), Alban Lafont (FC Nantes)
- Best prospect of Ligue 1: Khéphren Thuram (OGC Nice), William Saliba (OM), Arnaud Kalimuendo (RC Lens), Castello Lukeba (OL), Nuno Mendes (PSG)
- Best coach of Ligue 1: Christophe Galtier (OGC Nice), Bruno Genesio (Stade Rennais FC), Antoine Kombouaré (FC Nantes), Jorge Sampaoli (OM), Julien Stéphan (RC Strasbourg Alsace)
Best French player abroad:
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembélé (FC Barcelona), Théo Hernandez (AC Milan), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea)
Nominees for Ligue 2 awards:
- Best player of Ligue 2: Youssouf M’Changama (EA Guingamp), Gauthier Hein (AJ Auxerre), Rhys Healey (Toulouse FC), Branco Van den Boomen (Toulouse FC), Gaëtan Charbonnier (AJ Auxerre)
- Best goalkeeper of Ligue 2: Vincent Demarconnay (Paris FC), Yahia Fofana (Havre AC), Donovan Léon (AJ Auxerre), Benjamin Leroy (AC Ajaccio), Maxime Dupé (Toulouse FC)
- Best coach of Ligue 2: Omar Daf (FC Sochaux-Montbéliard), Thierry Laurey (Paris FC), Philippe Montanier (Toulouse FC), Olivier Pantaloni (AC Ajaccio), Didier Tholot (Pau FC)
Nominees for women’s D1 awards:
- Best player of D1: Kadidiatou Diani (PSG), Onema Grace Geyoro (PSG), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG), Catarina Macario (OL), Clara Matéo (Paris FC)
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