END OF THE LINE FOR A LEGEND
GERMANY forward Celia Sasic reiterated she has no regrets over her decision to retire, despite scooping the UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe Award for 2014-15 last week.
The 27-year-old beat off competition from former FFC Frankfurt and Germany teammate Dzsenifer Marozsan and Lyon midfielder Amandine Henry to land the award, voted for by a panel of 18 journalists.
It comes after a stellar season, which saw the former Frankfurt star finish top goalscorer in both the German Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League – her goal helping her side lift the trophy in the latter in a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain.
She also scored six goals at the 2015 Women’s World Cup – the most of any player at the tournament – as she reached 111 appearances for the country.
Despite the 49 goals in all competitions last season, Sasic – who is married to Croatian footballer Marko – brought the curtain down on 11 years in the game to focus finishing her Cultural Studies diploma and raising a family.
“I won the Champions League with Frankfurt and played in the World Cup. And now I have this award. I can have no regrets about calling time on my career,” she said.“It’s amazing to win this award. But I also want to say that this is a trophy for my teammates from the national team and from FFC Frankfurt.
“I have the best job, I am a striker, but my team-mates are the ones who give me good balls, so it’s for them too.”
Sasic finished on 11 votes, with Henry picking up four, one more than Marozsan.
Six British players received votes in the first three rounds, with Manchester City’s England captain Steph Houghton just missing out on making the cut for the final dozen.
The other home nations players recognised were Fara Williams, Lucy Bronze, Kim Little, Karen Bardsley and Jodie Taylor.