Kuala Lumpur: Sam Kerr's season just keeps getting better, after the Australian international was shortlisted for FIFA’s ‘The Best’ Women’s Player award on Thursday.
The Matildas forward, who plays club football for Perth Glory and the US-based Sky Blue FC, is the sole Asian representative among the 10 nominees for the prestigious award.
Kerr is joined on the shortlist by the women’s game’s global elite, including 2016 winner Carli Lloyd and newly crowned Dutch UEFA Euro 2017-winning duo Vivianne Miedema and Lieke Martens.
Speaking from the United States, Kerr said she was thrilled to be included in such esteemed company.
“It’s exciting and a massive honour,” said the 23 year-old.
“There are some great players in that list and all I can say at the moment is that it’s very humbling and a great honour to be shortlisted for this accolade.”
Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates her goal against Brazil during the 2017 Tournament Of Nations at the StubHub Centre in Carson, California on August 3
Kerr has recently enjoyed a rich vein form at both club and international leves, scoring four goals in three matches – including a hat-trick against Japan - in Australia’s victorious Tournament of Nations campaign.
The West Australian’s star turn in that tournament followed 11 goals and two Player of the Month awards for Sky Blue FC in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) congratulated Kerr on being nominated for the 2017 Best FIFA Women's Player award.
FFA CEO David Gallop paid tribute to Kerr for her nomination and outstanding achievements this year.
"Sam is the first Australian ever to be nominated for this award and she richly deserves the recognition. She is part of an outstanding Matildas team and together they demonstrate the quality of women’s football in this country,” said Gallop. “Sam and her teammates will be playing Brazil in Penrith and Newcastle on September 16 and 19 and I urge everyone who can to get out to the game and experience this Matildas team playing live,” concluded Gallop.
Japan’s Homare Sawa remains the only Asian woman to be crowned FIFA’s Women’s Player of the Year, claiming the honour after the Nadeshiko broke through to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011.
Elsewhere, DPR Korea’s Hwang Yong-bong has been shortlisted for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach award, in recognition of his side’s stellar 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup victory in Papua New Guinea and FIFA U-17 in Jordan.
Hwang’s side scored 21 goals in six matches to become World Champions, beating France 3-1 in the final in December.
If successful, Hwang will become Asia’s second FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year winner, after Japan’s Norio Sasaki won the award in 2011.
Shortlisted candidates for The Best FIFA Women's Player 2017
Lucy Bronze (ENG - Manchester City Women)
Deyna Castellanos (VEN - Santa Clarita Blue Heat)
Pernille Harder (DEN - Linkopings / VfL Wolfsburg (Women))
Sam Kerr (AUS - Perth Glory / Sky Blue FC)
Carli Lloyd (USA - Houston Dash / Manchester City Women)
Dzsenifer Marozsan (GER - Olympique Lyonnais Feminin)
Lieke Martens (NED - FC Barcelona Femeni)
Vivianne Miedema (NED - Arsenal Women)
Wendie Renard (FRA - Olympique Lyonnais Feminin)
Jodie Taylor (ENG - Arsenal Women)
Shortlisted candidates for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2017
Olivier Echouafni (FRA - French national team)
Emma Hayes (ENG - Chelsea Ladies)
Ralf Kellermann (GER - VfL Wolfsburg)
Xavi Llorens (ESP - FC Barcelona Femeni)
Nils Nielsen (DEN - Danish national team)
Florence Omagbemi (NGA - Nigerian national team)
Gerard Precheur (FRA - Olympique Lyonnais Feminin)
Dominik Thalhammer (AUT - Austrian national team)
Sarina Wiegman (NED - Netherlands national team)
Hwang Yong-bong (PRK – DPR Korea U-20 national team)
Photos: AFP, AFC
Source: the-afc.com