MIKEL ARTETA, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas and Robert Lewandowski were among the star names to be honoured at Tuesday night’s Globe Soccer Awards.
The lavish event was held at the glitzy Hotel Cala di Volpe amid a picturesque backdrop in Sardinia, Italy.
Glamorous Italian TV presenter Melissa Satta was on hosting duties at the event, handing out numerous prestigious awards.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was in attendance alongside wife Lorena Bernal.
Lorena, 43, beamed from ear-to-ear as her long-term husband, 42, was presented with the “Best Premier League Coach” gong – despite losing out on the title to Manchester City on the final day.
Upon receiving his award, Arteta said: “Win. Win, win and win. That’s what we want.
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“We’ve been through a few years right now, we have a team that is full of enthusiasm and so hungry to win trophies.
“We know the competition, but we believe we can do it. So we are going to give it a real go.”
Arteta’s long-time friend Xabi Alonso, who hails from the same Basque region of Spain, was in attendance alongside wife Nagore Aranburu.
The couple posed for pictures together, before Alonso picked up his “Best Coach of the Year” award.
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The 42-year-old inspired Bayer Leverkusen to an incredible season, during which they lost just one match, last week’s Europa League final, on the way to scooping the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal titles.
Arteta and Alonso’s fellow Spaniard Fabregas was in attendance after leading Como 1907 to promotion to Serie A.
The former midfielder, 37, was joined by proud wife Daniela Semaan as he collected the “Globe Soccer Comeback Award” on behalf of his club.
Lewandowski, a previous winner at the Globe Soccer Awards, was named in the LaLiga Team of the Season.
The 35-year-old, who recently chatted exclusively to SunSport, was decked out in a tuxedo alongside wife Anna at the bash.
Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, wore all black as he rocked up to pick up his “Best European Player” award.
At the event the Frenchman, who is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain next month, revealed which Serie A club he would love to play for one day.
He told Sky Sport Italia: “If I ever play in Italy, it would be for Milan.
“When I was a kid, I was a fan of AC Milan and always watched Serie A and all Milan games. My whole family supports Milan.”
Veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, 46, picked up a “Player Career Award” – having finally hung up his gloves last season.
Manchester City collected the “Best Men’s Club of the Year” gong despite losing last weekend’s FA Cup final to Manchester United.
Barcelona, meanwhile, picked up the same award in the women’s category after winning the Champions League.
Harry Kane won the “Best Goalscorer” gong, with Barca wonderkid Lamine Yamal named the “Emerging Player”.
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Veteran former England boss Fabio Capello beamed as he arrived at the event alongside wife of 55 years Laura Ghisi.
The 77-year-old was on hand to present the LaLiga Coach of the Year award, which went to Girona’s Michel Sanchez.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
