The professional from Real Madrid sat down in the election carried out by the APA – Austria Press Agency among the coaches or sports managers of the twelve Bundesliga clubs with 58 points, clearly ahead of Marko Arnautovic (Bologna/16), Konrad Laimer (Leipzig) and Gernot Trauner ( Feyenoord/je 7) through. For Alaba it is the ninth freestyle for footballer of the year. This makes him the superior record holder ahead of Ivica Vastic (4) and Herbert Prohaska (3). In a first reaction to the APA, the Viennese said: “I am very happy and it is very important to me personally. It is a great award that makes me proud and also grateful because it is a huge honor for me I am aware that it was a special year for me and it makes me happy that the hard work is also recognized at home.”
The 30-year-old lifted the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid this year by beating Liverpool 1-0 in the Stade de France final, winning the world’s most coveted club title for the third time. In addition, Alaba crowned himself with the “Royal” in 2022 as the European Supercup winner as well as the Spanish champion and Supercup champion – and that as an undisputed regular player. Alaba has already won 31 titles in his career so far, the next chance for trophies is in the Spanish Supercup in January and at the Club World Cup in February.
However, Alaba’s year with the national team did not go according to plan. In March, a 1-2 draw against Wales in the play-off semi-finals meant that the chance of qualifying for the World Cup was wasted, and the team boss changed from Franco Foda to Ralf Rangnick. After that, despite phased successful appearances in a Nations League group with France, Croatia and Denmark, you were last and got down from the highest class.
At the end there was at least a 2-0 win in the test match in Vienna’s Happel Stadium against the reigning European champions Italy. Alaba sank a free kick for his 15th goal in his 98th ÖFB appearance. Only Arnautovic (106), Andreas Herzog (103) and Aleksandar Dragovic (100) have played more international matches.
Alaba is currently training in Madrid with those club colleagues who were not in action at the World Cup. The next competitive game with Real for Austria’s three-time sportsman of the year is on December 30th away against Real Valladolid. The Madrilenians are two points behind FC Barcelona after 14 rounds in second place in La Liga. Alaba has been used in all 21 competition games of the record champions in the current season.
LASK coach Kühbauer: “Alaba the undisputed number one”
The ÖFB team captain was placed first eleven out of twelve times in the APA election, only Austria Lustenaus Markus Mader voted for rapid professional Guido Burgstaller. In contrast, Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle opted for Alaba, with whom he shares times at Hoffenheim. “After leaving Bayern, he also plays an excellent role at the next top European club. With his quality at Real Madrid, he made a huge contribution to winning the Spanish championship and the Champions League title,” said the German.
Christian Ilzer from Sturm Graz agreed with this opinion. “He’s the logical choice for me: Champions League winner, national team captain and a regular at Real Madrid – I think those performances speak for themselves. He’s been at the absolute top level for years, wins titles regularly and is with these teams an absolute leader, from which I clearly deserve first place.”
LASK coach Dietmar Kühbauer said that Alaba was “the undisputed number one. Regular at Real, won both the championship and the Champions League with the Madrilenians this year.” Rapids Zoran Barisic made a similar statement. “Anyone who, as a regular and key player, wins the Champions League in his first season after ten German championship titles and finishes La Liga as a Campeón, once again has no competition this year as Austria’s footballer of the year. His footballing world class is undisputed, and he can also show his strengths in several positions.”
For WSG Tirol coach Thomas Silberberger, Alaba is also “without a doubt number one in Austria”, and Peter Pacult is also full of praise: “After successful years at FC Bayern, he has also established himself as an absolute leader at Real Madrid and is decisive helped the club win the Champions League and the Spanish Championship.”
Heinle: “Alaba an outstanding footballer”
Sports director Manuel Ortlechner gave his vote for Alaba for Austria, which is currently without a coach. “David’s unique career and the successes associated with it are the greatest thing that Austrian football has to offer. Winning the Champions League again in 2022 with what is probably the biggest club in the world, and that in the first season, is just another chapter of success in a unprecedented career,” said the Upper Austrian.
WAC supervisor Robin Dutt emphasized that Alaba slipped into a leadership role immediately after moving to Real. “Therefore, there is no way around him for me.” Dutt’s compatriot, Altach coach Miroslav Klose, stated that Alaba “continues where he left off in Munich. He takes responsibility and made a significant contribution to the Champions League victory.”
According to Ried’s Christian Heinle, Alaba shows “that he doesn’t just work in Munich, but everywhere, because he’s just an outstanding footballer. As the head of defence, he played a huge part in Real Madrid’s double win.” For Hartberg, the short-term interim head coach Alexander Marchat summed it up: “Winning the Champions League and immediately integrated into the Spanish league, absolute fan favourite, top performances consistently at a high level.”
That’s how the Bundesliga coaches voted
Matthias Jaissle (Red Bull Salzburg):
1.David Alaba (Real Madrid)
2. Konrad Laimer (RB Leipzig)
3. Alexander Prass (Sturm Graz)
Christian Ilzer (Sturm Graz):
1. David Alaba (Real Madrid)
2. Marko Arnautovic (Bologna FC)
3. Nicolas Seiwald (Red Bull Salzburg)
Dietmar Kuhbauer (LASK):
1. David Alaba (Real Madrid)
2. Gernot Trauner (Feyenoord Rotterdam)
3. Christopher Trimmel (Union Berlin)
Zoran Barisic (Rapid):
1. David Alaba (Real Madrid)
2. Christopher Trimmel (Union Berlin)
3. Florian Kainz (1. FC Cologne)
Thomas Silberberger (WSG Tirol):
1.David Alaba (Real Madrid)
2. Marko Arnautovic (Bologna FC)
3. Jakob Jantscher (Sturm Graz)
Peter Pacult (Austria Klagenfurt):
1.David Alaba (Real Madrid)
2. Marko Arnautovic (Bologna FC)
3. Alexander Prass (Sturm Graz)
Manuel Ortlechner (Austria Sports Director):
1.David Alaba (Real Madrid)
2. Konrad Laimer (RB Leipzig)
3. Gernot Trauner (Feyenoord Rotterdam)
Markus Mader (Austria Lustenau):
1. Guido Burgstaller (Rapid)
2.David Alaba (Real Madrid)
3. Marko Arnautovic (Bologna FC)
Robin Dutt (WAC):
1.David Alaba (Real Madrid)
2. Philipp Lienhart (SC Freiburg)
3. Konrad Laimer (RB Leipzig)
Miroslav Klose (Altach):
1.David Alaba (Real Madrid)
2. Marko Arnautovic (Bologna FC)
3. Nicolas Seiwald (RB Salzburg)
Christian Heinle (Ried):
1.David Alaba (Real Madrid)
2. Gernot Trauner (Feyenoord Rotterdam)
3. Markus Pink (Austria Klagenfurt)
Alexander Marchat (Hartberg interim head coach):
1.David Alaba (Real Madrid)
2. Marko Arnautovic (Bologna FC)
3. Luka Sucic (Red Bull Salzburg)
more from football Austria
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Austria Klagenfurt recorded a loss of three million euros in the past season
LASK wins the test 2: 1, Ried 3: 3
Causa Milletich: The cards are laid on the table
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I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
