Juventus’ Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved has been voted European Footballer of the Year by France Football magazine, the Italian club’s official website said on Monday.
The 31-year-old has been outstanding for club and country over the last 12 months, helping Juventus to the Italian title and the Champions League final and the Czech Republic to a place in the EURO 2004 finals.
Nedved, who was won World Soccer’s Player of the Year poll, is the second Czech to win the Golden Ball after Josef Masopust in 1962.
The Czech earned 190 points to finish ahead of Arsenal’s Thierry Henry who came second with 128 points. Milan’s Paolo Maldini came third with 123 points, while Ukraine’s Milan striker Andrei Shevchenko was fourth on 67 points. FIFA’s player of the year Zinedine Zidane of France was placed in fifth spot with 64 points.
