David Alaba named Austria’s Sportsman of the Year

David Alaba has once again been voted “Sportsman of the Year” in Austria. It’s the third time in his career (after 2013 and 2014) that the professional footballer would be bestowed with the honour.

The winner is chosen in a poll conducted by the members of the Austrian Sports Journalists Association. Alaba is the eighth athlete to be named Austria’s best at least three times since 1949.

Alaba has reacted to the announcement of the award on his social media accounts. “We have many great athletes in Austria. I am all the more honoured to receive the award for Austria’s Sportsman of the Year,” he wrote. “After this special season, this award will certainly also have a special place with me. Congratulations also to all the other winners and nominees on these great achievements and thanks to everyone who voted for me.”

For the Real Madrid defender and long-time title holder with Bayern Munich, it is the latest award in a long list of successes: eight times Footballer of the Year in Austria, three Champions League triumphs, ten league titles with Bayern and one with Real.

Alaba was born on 24 June 1992 in Vienna to a Nigerian father George, a musician, and mother Gina, a nurse from the Philippines. He has a sister, Rose May Alaba, who is a professional recording artist.

Alaba is Austria’s second youngest player to play for the senior national team, debuting in 2009 as a 17-year-old. He has earned over 90 caps and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2016 and UEFA Euro 2020.

The Austrian footballer, who plays either as a central midfielder, wide midfielder, left-back or centre-back for Real Madrid and the Austria national team, is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation.

Austin Ohaegbu

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