Milito and Mourinho win Italian football Oscars
Reuters - Monday 24 January 2011, 22:46
MILAN - Inter Milan striker Diego Milito
was voted Italian players' association player of the year for
2009/10 on Monday with his former boss Jose Mourinho winning the
best coach award.
Milito, 31, scored the winning goals in the three key
matches as Inter claimed last term's unprecedented Italian
treble of Serie A, Champions League and Italian Cup in his first
season at the club. He netted 22 league goals last season.
"It's an immense honour. For me 2010 will always be a truly
unforgettable year," late bloomer Milito said at the ceremony
dubbed the "Italian football Oscars."
The Argentine beat off competition from Dutch team-mate
Wesley Sneijder, who has missed out for a second time after
being left off the three-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or
won by Lionel Messi this month.
Mourinho was odds-on to win the best coach award for a
second straight year despite quitting Inter for Real Madrid
immediately after sealing May's treble.
The Portuguese, who cheekily revealed he had won during a
Real news conference on Sunday, could not attend the glitzy show
at a Milan theatre but sent a video message.
"I'm sorry for not being there but (Wednesday's) cup
semi-final with Sevilla stopped me from coming," Mourinho said.
"To receive the Oscar is great because for me to have
respect is important... also from my opponents. Serie A is tough
and I see that now I am away."
The annual January gala, which recognises achievements from
the previous season voted on by Serie A players, also saw Julio
Cesar again named goalkeeper of the year while Inter team-mate
Maicon won the award for best goal.
Inter's Walter Samuel, out for the season with injury,
shared the best defender gong for 2009/10 with Juventus centre-back Giorgio Chiellini and Udinese's Antonio Di Natale was voted
best Italian player for topping last term's scoring charts.
Palermo's Argentina playmaker Javier Pastore won best young
player.