Kerr waltzes to Asian award
THE awards keep coming for Matildas star Sam Kerr, who has added the crown of Asia’s player of the year to her overflowing trophy cabinet.
Kerr, 24, was presented with the prize for best women’s player at the AFC awards night in Bangkok on Wednesday.
She hailed her “crazy year” on receiving the award.
The West Australian started the year by taking Perth Glory into the WLeague grand final, captaining her hometown club and scoring 10 goals through the season.
She picked up the Julie Dolan Medal for best WLeague player, the media’s MVP and goal of the year awards.
Kerr returned to the US for another season with Sky Blue FC, where she continued her scoring streak.
With 17 goals, she claimed the league MVP award and the leading goalscorer.
And she finally found her scoring boots for the national team. After taking more than 50 matches to tally eight international goals, in 2017 she let loose wearing a gold shirt.
Kerr has netted 11 times in her past six appearances for Alen Stajcic’s side as the Matildas won the Tournament of Nations. In doing so, they stretched their winning streak to seven matches, including wins over the US and Japan.
She said she was honoured to be in the fine company of past winners. “It’s been a bit of a crazy year,” she said.
“A lot of Australians have previously won the award, so I’m very humbled to win not only because the Australians have done well but also because it’s a great award and I’m very excited.”
She follows in the footsteps of Caitlin Foord (2016), Katrina Gorry (2014) and Kate Gill (2010).
Showing her commitment to the cause, Kerr spent yesterday travelling to Sydney to ensure she would be ready for tonight’s W-League match for Perth against Western Sydney.
Kerr was the sole Australian winner at the Bangkok ceremony, with Ange Postecoglou and Aaron Mooy missing out.
Ex-Socceroos boss Postecoglou was overlooked in the coach’s category, losing to Japan’s Takafumi Hori.
Socceroos midfielder Mooy was nominated for the International Asian Player of the Year Award, which went to Tottenham midfielder Son Heung-min. The 25-year-old Son helped Spurs finish second in the Premier League last season, scoring 14 goals. He also helped South Korea qualify for a ninth successive World Cup.
Omar Khrbin, part of the Syria side who faced the Socceroos in September’s Asian World Cup playoffs, became the first player from his nation to be crowned Asia’s Player of the Year.