KARIM BENZEMA and Carlo Ancelotti were honoured for their historic campaigns with Real Madrid last season.
The pair scooped UEFA’s Player and Manager of the Year trophies at the governing body’s awards ceremony in Istanbul on Thursday.
France international Benzema won the prestigious gong for his scintillating 2021/22 campaign, in which he scored 15 goals in Europe’s elite club competition.
The Frenchman’s outstanding tally helped fire Real to their 14th European Cup and made Ancelotti the most successful manager in the tournament’s history.
Real’s victory over Premier League big boys Liverpool in May handed the Italian his fourth Champions League trophy, two of which he won with AC Milan.
After accepting the award, Ancelotti, 63, said: “The passion I have for the sport and the quality of the players.
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“Last season there was a fantastic connection between the veterans and young ones, there was fantastic chemistry with the supporters that helped us reach an unbelievable achievement.”
Ancelotti was quick to hail the man who made him the most successful manager in Champions League history.
He said: “Karim is not just a fantastic striker and top scorer.
“He’s a fantastic footballer, supported by a great attitude day by day.
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“Compared to last year, this year he improved his knowledge, he knows the game really well, how to manage the game and he’s a strong leader in the dressing room and a good friend of mine.
“We are lucky to have Karim.”
Benzema and Ancelotti scooped their awards not long after Real learned their fate for the group stages of this year’s Champions League.
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Los Blancos were drawn in Group F with RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic.
The Spanish giants will kick off their defence of the trophy on September 6th or 7th.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
