Jürgen Klopp and Alisson Becker Named Finalists for FIFA Awards
The Liverpool duo are finalists for Best Men’s Coach and Best Men’s Goalkeeper respectively.
Jürgen Klopp is one of three finalists for FIFA’s 2020 Best Men’s Coach award, and Alisson Becker is one of the three keepers who have a chance to take home the 2020 Best Men’s Goalkeeper award. LFC’s manager and shot-stopper will be hoping to repeat as winners after each won the award in their respective category in 2019.
The duo were fairly obvious choices last year thanks to a Champion’s League Title and nearly perfect league form with the Reds going unbeaten in the Premier League after losing the very first match of 2019 against Manchester City. The points racked up thanks to the virtually flawless start to the 2019-20 campaign enabled Liverpool to cruise to their first English top-flight title in 30 years.
Both Klopp and Alisson certainly have a strong case for deserving to repeat as award winners this year thanks to the aforementioned drought ending title and incredible league record that continued into 2020. Klopp has also quite successfully managed to rack up wins and points despite a rash of injuries to key players, and Alisson’s presence has been vital as Liverpool have been forced to start makeshift defensive lines throughout most of the 20-21 season.
However, it’s not as clear that Klopp and Alisson will take home the awards for 2020 as it was last year. Neither’s résumé is quite as strong as it was in 2019, and the other finalists will all like their chances.
Marcelo Bielsa of Leeds United and Hans-Dieter Flick of Bayern Munich join Klopp as finalists for the Best Men’s Coach. Bielsa managed Leeds to first place in the EFL Championship by a margin of 10 points, securing Leeds promotion to the Premier League after a 16-year absence. Flick led Bayern Munich to Bundesliga, Champion’s League, and DFB-Pokal titles.
Alisson will be up against Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer and Atlético Madrid’s Jan Oblak for the Best Men’s Goalkeeper award. Neuer was a key part of Bayern’s triple and will likely be the favorite for the award. Though his team did not win any titles, Oblak was the anchor to an Atlético side that made the CL quarter-finals, surrendered just 27 goals en route to a third-place La Liga finish, and is currently at the top of the La Liga table.
The Best FIFA Football Awards will be decided via vote equally split between national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans, and the winners will be announced on December 17th.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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