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Butragueno backs Casillas for Ballon d'Or

Fri 11 Jul, 08:05 PM


MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas, who played a key role in Spain's Euro 2008 victory, should win the Ballon d'Or award as the world footballer of the year, Spanish legend Emilio Butragueno said Friday.

"Tradition dictates that only forwards win the award. But Iker is a special goalkeeper, not just this year, but throughout his career," the former Real Madrid striker and vice-president told the club's website.

"The fact that he's a European champion and the role he played in the quarter-finals make him deserve it more than anyone. He must win the Balon d'Or," he added.

Casillas, 27, only allowed two regular-time goals in the Euro 2008 tournament, both in the group stage.

The captain became a national hero after he saved two penalty kicks in the quarter-finals as Spain beat Italy 4-2 in a shootout after a 0-0 draw.

The winner of the Ballon d'Or award is selected by a panel of journalists and soccer officials in a vote organized by France Football magazine since 1956.

The prize was restricted to European footballers until last year when France Football changed the qualifications, opening the award up to players from the rest of the world, regardless of nationality.

AC Milan's Brazilian midfielder Kaka won the Ballon d'Or award in 2007.

Russia's Lev Yashin of Dynamo Moscow was the last keeper to win the award in 1963.

 

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  1. iker banget....

    From tshaarthur, on Tue 15 Jul 8:24AM

  2. A Goal-keeper for World Player of the Year? And why not? At least a defender won it in 2006! The selection of Fabio Cannavaro, the central defender captain of World Cup winners Italy in 2006,is a clearly demonstration the increasing recognition by the World Football governing body of the roles of "players other than forwards" in determining the successful outcome of football teams. Many informed obsevers at the 1998 World Cup in France have stated that the success of winners France was largely as a result of the Compact team play with defenders like Lilian Thuram scoring very important goals, while Deschamps and Desailly and goal-keeper Fabian Barthez maintained and organized, even when they were 2-men down! Thus while the roles of forwards like the legendary Zidane cannot be understated, still it was that compact American-football-like defence-centred system that propelled France all the way. In the final game,for example, that stupedously high-quality side Brazil did not score even once just because they could not find a way thru' the french defence!Until now, the contribution of that defence had not been properly acknowledged. Methinks that awarding it to a keeper this time will re-emphasized the role of goalkeepers in team success and also encourage youths that success at goalkeeping can also be as rewarding as goalscoring!I strongly agree with the VULTURE!

    From mike onyibe, on Mon 14 Jul 9:33PM

  3. ronaldo has to win it this year, he was the best

    From acamovic8, on Mon 14 Jul 4:15AM

  4. cristiano ronaldo will never win that award

    From ryanho0001, on Sat 12 Jul 3:29PM

  5. i agree, casillas is the best

    From soon_hck, on Sat 12 Jul 1:34PM

  6. I agree, if anyone really deserves to win the award it is Casillas, he is brilliant and the person who i think is the most deserving of this award.
    As for world player of the year it should either be Torres or Ronaldo or maybe even Sergio ramos and sneijder. i think Torres is most deserving of that award.

    From jonaspachulia, on Sat 12 Jul 9:11AM
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