Pro League Awards: Deniz Undav crowned Player of the Year, Felice Mazzu best Coach… Discover the complete list

Deniz Undav was named Player of the Year in the Jupiler Pro League, the Belgian football championship, on Monday at the Pro League Awards gala, held at the Event Lounge in Schaerbeek. The German-Turkish Union Saint-Gilloise striker beat Tarik Tissoudali and his teammate Casper Nielsen. Undav, 25, won the title of top scorer in the championship with his 26 goals which contributed to the incredible season of Union Saint-Gilloise, leader at the end of the regular season and second at the end of the playoffs, only beaten by Club Brugge.

Undav notched 217 points, edging out Tissoudali (122) and Nielsen (76) in the standings. Undav succeeds Paul Onuachu on the list. Note that the winners of the Pro League Awards are elected by the players, coaches and managers of each club. They voted in a single round last month.

After receiving his award, the Union striker reacted. « It’s a good end to the season which could have been a little bit better, » he smiled. The Union also saw Felice Mazzu win Coach of the Year and Anthony Moris share the clean sheets trophy with Simon Mignolet. « We are second in the championship, I won two trophies, the coach one, Anthony too… It’s a good end to the season which could have been a little bit better, but it’s good, I’m happy “, summed up Undav.

Mazzu best coach

Felice Mazzu was voted coach of the year in the Belgian football championship on Monday. The Union Saint-Gilloise coach flew over the vote, obtaining 286 votes. The second, Edward Still (Charleroi), collected 25 votes. Wouter Vrancken (KV Mechelen) and Hein Vanhaezebrouck (La Gantoise) share third place with 24 votes each. After bringing the Union back to the first division after 48 years of absence, Mazzu, 56, had an exceptional season with his troops. Union finished the regular phase in the lead and finally finished second in the championship, only beaten by Club Brugge, which earned them a place in the Champions League preliminaries.

Mazzu succeeds the German Alexander Blessin, former coach of KV Ostend.

« It’s the best season of my career, » Mazzu said in an interview after receiving his trophy. « I think you have to be precise, consistent and correct, when you’re first for seven months and you’re playing for the Belgian Division 1 title when you’ve never done it before, it’s the best season. of your career, » summed up Mazzu.

« Two years ago my situation was not easy, » explained Mazzu, who rebounded to Union after being fired at Genk. « What’s funny is that I receive the award from someone from Genk (Pierre Denier, editor’s note). Is this a sign? But it’s good, it’s deserved in relation to the work of the group, of the club and the management. Unfortunately, these are individual prizes, it could have been collective prizes. I am very proud for the whole group. »

« I try to stay who I am, » continued Mazzu, when asked about his strengths. « Knowing that it’s natural and close to my players is something important, and I try to have a lot of respect. » Mazzu is described as « a dad » by his players. « A dad is there to love his children, he is to allow them to grow and succeed in their lives. If they say that, it makes me very happy, it means that I participated in their development », smiled the ‘Coach of the Year.

Charles De Ketelaere named Hope of the Year

Club Brugge attacking midfielder Charles De Ketelaere was voted Prospect of the Year on Monday evening.

De Ketelaere, 21, scored 14 goals and provided 9 assists to contribute to the Club Brugge title. With 164 votes, he overtook Sergio Gomez (Anderlecht), second with 85 votes. Rabbi Matondo (Cercle Bruges) took third place with 75 votes.

De Ketelaere succeeds his Dutch teammate Noa Lang on the list.

Junya Ito (Genk) scored the best goal of the season

Junya Ito’s strike from the left after a fine collective movement against Oud-Heverlee Louvain (4-0), during the 4th day, was rewarded with the Goal of the Year award in the Belgian championship of soccer. Ito started the action from the right flank in the 77th minute. After a double one-two, first with Kristian Thorstvedt and then with Théo Bongonda, Ito placed the leather from the left in the upper left corner.

Ito’s goal won 17% of the vote in the vote organized among the supporters, narrowly ahead of the long shot of Deniz Undav (Union) against Kortrijk, 2nd with 16%. The cross strike by Rob Schoofs (KV Mechelen) against KV Ostend comes third with 14% of the vote.

Ito succeeds Jan Van den Bergh (KV Mechelen) on the list.

Lukas Van Eenoo (Westerlo) is the 1B Pro League Player of the Year

Lukas Van Eenoo was named 1B Pro League Player of the Year on Monday. The Westerlo captain, promoted to the top flight next season, 31, edged out teammate Lyle Foster and Nicolas Rommens (RWDM). Van Eenoo scored 4 goals and delivered 6 assists playing a big role in the conquest of the title in 1B, and therefore the promotion in 1A, of Westerlo.

Van Eenoo succeeds Dante Vanzeir on the list.

Tessa Wullaert named Player of the Year

Tessa Wullaert won the Scooore Super League Player of the Year trophy, the Belgian women’s football championship. Wullaert was preferred to Marie Minnaert (Club Bruges) and Marie Detruyer (Oud-Heverlee Louvain). Wullaert, 29, has scored 38 goals this season, leading Anderlecht to a league-cup double.

Wullaert succeeds Laura De Neve as winner of this prize awarded last year for the first time.

The players and coaches of the women’s championship voted for this award.

Erik Lambrechts awarded as best referee

Erik Lambrechts was named Referee of the Year in the Belgian football championship on Monday during the Pro League Awards gala held at the Event Lounge in Schaerbeek.

The 37-year-old from Antwerp is ahead of Lawrence Visser (32) and Nicolas Laforge (35). Lambrechts has taken charge of 24 league games this season, including the decisive one for the title between Club Brugge and Union (1-0).

Already rewarded in 2019, Lambrechts succeeds Jonathan Lardot

Aline Zeler first « Legend of the Pro League » introduced to the Hall of Fame

Aline Zeler is the first « Legend of the Pro League » to join the Hall of Fame of the Belgian football championship. The Pro League announced it on Monday at its annual gala. The Pro League has decided to launch its Hall of Hame in the fall of 2022. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame, you must have played at least 75 official matches in the Belgian first division, have played after 1974 (date of creation of the Pro League) and no longer be active as a professional footballer in any league.

Aline Zeler, former captain of the Red Flames, inaugurates this award. « No one can deny his importance and his contribution to Belgian football, » stressed the Pro League. « She is the quintessential symbol of the enormous growth of women’s football in recent years. »

Zeler has won nine Belgian league titles with three different clubs: Sint-Truiden, Standard and Anderlecht. She also won the BeNELeague with the Rouches. She has totaled 111 appearances in the national team and participated in Euro 2017, the first international tournament played by the Red Flames.

The next ten names, chosen by supporters on the basis of a list drawn up by a panel of former players, coaches, journalists and other football observers, will be announced during the autumn. Afterwards, five Belgian football icons will be named each season by the Pro League panel and two more will be added after fan voting.

La Gantoise and Waasland-Beveren awarded for their social commitment

Gantoise, for 1A, and Waasland-Beveren, for 1B, received the « Football & Community » prize on Monday. Both clubs have been crowned by a jury of independent experts for their social functioning and social efforts over the past season. La Gantoise and its foundation are rewarded for the « wide range of initiatives and social projects » developed during the season.

Waasland-Beveren receives the award thanks to the « continuation of several sustainable and structural projects and the social commitment of the club ».

The Oud-Heverlee Leuven stadium has the best pitch

For the second time in three years, Oud-Heverlee Louvain received the ‘Groundsmen Award’ which rewards the best pitch and the best gardeners in the Belgian football championship. The King Power at Den Dreef Stadion’s ground was rated highest by players, coaches and the rights holder in the 2021-2022 season.

OHL averaged 58 out of 60, ahead of Antwerp (57.9) and Anderlecht (56.8).

Pierre Denier honored for his entire career

Pierre Denier received the Crowning Career Award on Monday during the Pro League Awards ceremony. On Saturday, Denier, 65, sat on Genk’s bench for the last time during the match in Mechelen, ending a rich career in Belgian football. In 48 years, he was in turn a player, assistant coach, interim coach and team manager at KFC Winterslag and then, after the merger, at KRC Genk. That is almost half a century within the same club.

« The Pro League would like to thank him for his dedication to football, his loyalty to the club of his heart and the role of father he fulfilled for the young people of KRC Genk, » the Pro League said in a statement.

The Pro League donates 5,000 euros to « Me To You »

The Pro League presented a check for 5,000 euros to the « Me To You » foundation on Monday at the Pro League Awards. Miguel Van Damme, who died on March 29 at the age of 28, was the godfather of this foundation, created in 2014, which supports blood cancer research and has as its main objective the fight against the disease. Miguel Van Damme, goalkeeper of Cercle Brugge, has died after a years-long battle with leukaemia. The whole Belgian football family paid tribute to him during the season. Several clubs have made donations to « Me To You », including donating profits from a jersey auction.

Thomas Toussey, administrator of Club Brugge and pathologist by profession, was present on the stage of the Event Lounge in Schaerbeek to discuss this cause and receive the check from the Pro League.