LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Fabio Cannavaro, who skippered Italy to victory at the World Cup, was named World Soccer's World Player of the Year on Friday -- only the second defender to win the honour in the awards' 25-year history.
The last defender to do so was compatriot Paolo Maldini in 1994.
Cannavaro's victory was one of the most comprehensive in the poll's history as he collected 40 percent of the readers' vote conducted annually by the influential British-based magazine.
He got three times as many votes as Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon and Frenchman Thierry Henry of Arsenal, who finished second and third respectively.
Cannavaro, who was named European Footballer of the Year last month, is one of three candidates for the FIFA World Player of the Year which will be announced on Monday.
Other award winners were Marcello Lippi of Italy, who was named coach of the year while European champions Barcelona were named World Team of the Year. Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina was named Young Player of the Year.
Cannavaro - World Soccer's Player of the Year
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Caramelas13
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Canna wins FIFA award - reports Sunday 17 December, 2006
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The Spanish Press claims that Fabio Cannavaro has pipped Zinedine Zidane to the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
The Italian World Cup winner, who has already won the Ballon d’Or last month, was short listed along with Zidane and Ronaldinho for the trophy voted by national team Coaches and captains.
According to ‘Radio Cadena Ser’, ‘Marca’ and ‘As’ this evening, Cannavaro has picked up 498 votes to Zidane’s 454 and 380 for the Brazilian who won this prize in 2004 and 2005.
The official word on who has been crowned World Player of the Year will only come on Monday in the gala at the Opera House in Zurich.
It has been a truly memorable year for Cannavaro, who won the Scudetto with Juventus before the Calciopoli scandal revoked it, lifted the World Cup in Berlin, moved to Real Madrid and was named European Player of the Year.
This article was on Football Italia this morning.
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The Spanish Press claims that Fabio Cannavaro has pipped Zinedine Zidane to the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
The Italian World Cup winner, who has already won the Ballon d’Or last month, was short listed along with Zidane and Ronaldinho for the trophy voted by national team Coaches and captains.
According to ‘Radio Cadena Ser’, ‘Marca’ and ‘As’ this evening, Cannavaro has picked up 498 votes to Zidane’s 454 and 380 for the Brazilian who won this prize in 2004 and 2005.
The official word on who has been crowned World Player of the Year will only come on Monday in the gala at the Opera House in Zurich.
It has been a truly memorable year for Cannavaro, who won the Scudetto with Juventus before the Calciopoli scandal revoked it, lifted the World Cup in Berlin, moved to Real Madrid and was named European Player of the Year.
This article was on Football Italia this morning.
Cannavaro crowns 'incredible season'
From correspondents in Zurich, Switzerland
December 19, 2006
FABIO Cannavaro, Italy's World Cup-winning captain, was named the FIFA world player of the year today (AEDT), beating playmakers Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho to become the first defender to win the award.
Cannavaro received the award at glittering gala evening here, after gaining the most votes in the poll of national team coaches and captains.
"For me it's a great honour for me to be here, because it has been an incredible season and one of great satisfaction," said the 33 year-old Neapolitan, who also won the "Golden Ball" award as European player of the year last month.
"The competition is scary, so strong. It's not usual for a defender to sit between Ronaldinho and Zidane," he added shortly before the award ceremony.
"Of course it must be a great compliment for the coaches I've had this year. It also underscores the way I am playing - and look at the matches we are playing in the teams I've had, and at Real.
"I can't ask for anything else, with the World Cup and Golden Ball award - you can't do any better than that," said Cannavaro, who moved from Juventus to the Spain this year.
France's retired three-time world player winner Zidane, who finished his career in controversy after being sent off in the World Cup final, was second.
Brazil and Barcelona's 2004 and 2005 winner Ronaldinho failed to win an unprecedented three successive titles and was third.
Cannavaro, who marshalled Italy's steadfast defence in Germany, was the first defender to carry away the world player of the year award, which has been the preserve of strikers and midfield players since 1990.
"It is more difficult for a defender to come this far, because you have Zidane and Ronaldinho who do all these wonderful things," he said.
Only fellow Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos (1997) and Italy's Paolo Maldini (1995) have come close before as runners-up.
Only three defensive players have won the European award, Soviet Union goalkeeper Lev Yashin in 1963, West Germany sweeper Franz Beckenbauer (1972, 1976) and Germany libero Matthias Sammer (1996).
Cannavaro kicked off his career in a suburb of Naples, learning the game by marshalling defences in fiercely contested street games between children.
He later became a ball boy at the city's San Paolo stadium while Diego Maradona played there, before making his debut for the local club in Serie A in 1993 against Juventus.
Two years later he moved to Parma alongside France defender Lilian Thuram, gaining his first taste of success by lifting the Italian Cup, a UEFA Cup title and making his Italy debut in 1997.
After a term with Inter Milan, Cannavaro made a comeback from a broken tibia by joining Juventus in 2004.
In addituion to winning the World Cup this year, Cannavaro won the Serie A with the Turin side in 2004-05 and 2005-06, before it was stripped of those titles and demoted to the second division in a match-fixing scandal this year.
In an unusual twist of fate after Zidane's notorious World Cup exit, Cannavaro was sent off on Sunday for the first time since he accompanied coach Fabio Capello from Juventus to Real Madrid.
From correspondents in Zurich, Switzerland
December 19, 2006
FABIO Cannavaro, Italy's World Cup-winning captain, was named the FIFA world player of the year today (AEDT), beating playmakers Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho to become the first defender to win the award.
Cannavaro received the award at glittering gala evening here, after gaining the most votes in the poll of national team coaches and captains.
"For me it's a great honour for me to be here, because it has been an incredible season and one of great satisfaction," said the 33 year-old Neapolitan, who also won the "Golden Ball" award as European player of the year last month.
"The competition is scary, so strong. It's not usual for a defender to sit between Ronaldinho and Zidane," he added shortly before the award ceremony.
"Of course it must be a great compliment for the coaches I've had this year. It also underscores the way I am playing - and look at the matches we are playing in the teams I've had, and at Real.
"I can't ask for anything else, with the World Cup and Golden Ball award - you can't do any better than that," said Cannavaro, who moved from Juventus to the Spain this year.
France's retired three-time world player winner Zidane, who finished his career in controversy after being sent off in the World Cup final, was second.
Brazil and Barcelona's 2004 and 2005 winner Ronaldinho failed to win an unprecedented three successive titles and was third.
Cannavaro, who marshalled Italy's steadfast defence in Germany, was the first defender to carry away the world player of the year award, which has been the preserve of strikers and midfield players since 1990.
"It is more difficult for a defender to come this far, because you have Zidane and Ronaldinho who do all these wonderful things," he said.
Only fellow Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos (1997) and Italy's Paolo Maldini (1995) have come close before as runners-up.
Only three defensive players have won the European award, Soviet Union goalkeeper Lev Yashin in 1963, West Germany sweeper Franz Beckenbauer (1972, 1976) and Germany libero Matthias Sammer (1996).
Cannavaro kicked off his career in a suburb of Naples, learning the game by marshalling defences in fiercely contested street games between children.
He later became a ball boy at the city's San Paolo stadium while Diego Maradona played there, before making his debut for the local club in Serie A in 1993 against Juventus.
Two years later he moved to Parma alongside France defender Lilian Thuram, gaining his first taste of success by lifting the Italian Cup, a UEFA Cup title and making his Italy debut in 1997.
After a term with Inter Milan, Cannavaro made a comeback from a broken tibia by joining Juventus in 2004.
In addituion to winning the World Cup this year, Cannavaro won the Serie A with the Turin side in 2004-05 and 2005-06, before it was stripped of those titles and demoted to the second division in a match-fixing scandal this year.
In an unusual twist of fate after Zidane's notorious World Cup exit, Cannavaro was sent off on Sunday for the first time since he accompanied coach Fabio Capello from Juventus to Real Madrid.
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Caramelas13
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caramelas13 wrote:Well deserved:
Scudetto with Juve
World Cup Winner with Italy
European Player of the year
World Player of the year
Should also have had the 2006 FIFA World Cup Player of the Tournament award.
What will our French mates Houllier & Wegner say now?
Ronaldo07 - care to comment???
Oh and U forgot - WORLD SOCCERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
TOTAL DOMINATION BY CANNAVARO
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Judge Judy
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the part i find funny:
"Fabio Cannavaro has pipped Zinedine Zidane"
as if Zizou was ever going to come close to winning it
"Fabio Cannavaro has pipped Zinedine Zidane"
as if Zizou was ever going to come close to winning it
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El Pibe D'Oro
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Agree with you wholeheartedly Chubby.xabi wrote:the part i find funny:
"Fabio Cannavaro has pipped Zinedine Zidane"
as if Zizou was ever going to come close to winning it
Definite sympathy vote for the bald genius. I watched a lot of la liga last season and it was def his worst season at Real - then he plays two good games in the world cup and finishes 2nd in the World Footballer of the Year????? Henry in the top three for sure.