Melbourne Victory winger Marco Rojas has been named the best player of the 2012/13 Hyundai A-League season, taking home the prestigious Johnny Warren Medal at tonight’s awards ceremony.
Melbourne Victory winger Marco Rojas has been named the best player of the 2012/13 Hyundai A-League season, taking home the prestigious Johnny Warren Medal at tonight’s awards ceremony.
The Johnny Warren Medal is awarded at the end of each season and is voted upon by every player in the Hyundai A-League.
Rojas was also named the NAB Young Footballer of the Year, while teammate Marcos Flores received the ‘Goal of the Year’ award for his stunning build-up and finish against Wellington Phoenix in Round 5.
Rojas was the standout winner after receiving 908 votes from his peers, which easily doubled that of his nearest rival, Alessandro Del Piero of Sydney FC (449 votes) and streets ahead of Daniel McBreen (280 votes), Michael McGlinchey (239 votes) and Dario Vidosic (222 votes).
The 21-year-old will feature heavily in this season’s highlights reel, having scored 15 goals while notching up eight assists in Victory colours.
The New Zealand international becomes the second Melbourne Victory player to receive the top prize, with Carlos Hernandez winning the award in 2009/10.
Melbourne Victory Coach Ange Postecoglou praised the young Kiwi’s efforts.
“There’s no doubt Marco has had an outstanding campaign and he has worked really hard to improve his game over the course of the season, so it’s great to see him recognised with the highest individual award in our sport,” Postecoglou said.
“To receive the Johnny Warren Medal at the age of just 21 is a very impressive feat, especially when you consider he also took out the Young Player of the Year award, and I believe there’s still plenty of improvement to come.”
Meanwhile, Flores’ delightful finish against Wellington Phoenix at Etihad Stadium was judged to be ‘Goal of the Year’ at tonight’s ceremony.
Flores combined superbly with teammate Gui Finkler on the edge of the penalty box, stunning the ‘Nix defenders and the Etihad Stadium crowd, before the Argentine curled the ball beautifully past ‘keeper Mark Paston.
You can see the goal by clicking here.
Melbourne Victory W-League player Steph Catley was named the ‘Young Player of the Year’, while Mike Mulvey was named W-League ‘Coach of the Year’ for his efforts with Victory’s women, before being installed permanently as Brisbane Roar’s Hyundai A-League coach.
