Ben Sigmund wears his heart on his sleeve whenever he takes the field for the Wellington Phoenix, and tonight he had a big smile on his face after being named the club’s Player of the Year.
Ben Sigmund wears his heart on his sleeve whenever he takes the field for the Wellington Phoenix, and tonight he had a big smile on his face after being named the club-s Player of the Year.
The award, decided by points given by the coaching staff throughout the season, is the club-s most prestigious.
With Sigmund what you see is what you get, and there is no more whole-hearted player than the central defender whether in the black and yellow of the Phoenix or the All White shirt of New Zealand.
Phoenix head coach Ricki Herbert said Sigmund thoroughly deserved the accolade of Sony Player of the Year.
“Whenever Ben takes the field you know you will never get less than 100 per cent from him,” Herbert said.
“If you need him to play out of position it doesn-t faze him. He just gets on with the job.
“Every team needs players like Siggy. He has had an outstanding season.”
Teenage midfielder Marco Rojas took two trophies home after winning the Under 23 Player of the Year and Media Player of the Year award.
Tenacious midfielder Manny Muscat earned the respect of his peers during the year with his outstanding performances and was voted the Players- Player of the Year.
Muscat completed a double later in the evening when he took out of the Members- Player of the Year title.
The Top Goal Scorer award went to Chris Greenacre who netted eight goals, just pipping Dylan Macallister and Paul Ifill, whose season was shortened by an ankle injury. Macallister and Ifill scored seven each.
Midfielder Tim Brown scored five goals, one more than Leo Bertos, another player whose season was curtailed by injury.
Wellington Phoenix Awards season 2010-11:
Under-23 Player of the Year: Marco Rojas
Media Player of the Year: Marco Rojas
Players- Player of the Year: Manny Muscat
Top Goal Scorer: Chris Greenacre
Members- Player of the Year: Manny Muscat
Sony Player of the Year: Ben Sigmund