Spring is here. At the end of another season, we bring you TheHardTackle Awards to recognize those who excelled and exemplified the best in their respective roles.
Choosing the best among world class performers is no leisurely task. Our experts from various leagues have toiled hard to pick the nominees for each category, but the toughest job is yours for the taking, should you choose to accept it. Take part in the poll for each of the categories and decide the winner.
Vote for your top choices from six of the biggest leagues – the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, the Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga, Champions League, Europa League – and help us figure out the winner in each of the following categories.
#1. Goalkeeper of the season
Goalkeepers making the headlines isn’t necessarily a good thing. You want them performing at their best, but even when they do they often go under-appreciated. This is our attempt at making amends. Pick your favorite custodian this past season; the last line of an imperious defense, the architects of those clean-sheet masterpieces and the men who matter at the end.
#2. Defender of the season
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a footballer with more courage and nerves of steel than a defender. Proving himself over the season with his consistency and his ability to lead and organize the line, a defender has his heart perennially in his mouth. They say defending is a lost art, but the nominees in this categories have proved otherwise. This is TheHardTackle’s attempt at recognizing the 5 best defenders in Europe this past season.
#3. Midfielder of the season
Midfielders keep a team ticking. Covering most of the pitch, backing up the defense and setting up the forwards, the midfield determines how far a team will go through the season. Expend all that precious energy in the first half of the season, and the team could come up short at the business end. Defenders have nothing on them. Strikers are giants because they stand on their shoulders. It wasn’t easy picking only 5; we can only imagine how hard it will be for you.
#4. Manager of the season
Do they make a difference? How do they do it, without even setting foot on the pitch? Do half-time pep-talks really help? The best managers bring a certain je ne sais quoi that enables teams to put their past behind them, and turn their fates around on a dime. Whether its flinging boots at stars, or pacing nervously by the sidelines, these men ensure we have a lot more fun to look forward to, after the final whistle. If you have concerns about the way your favorite team lined up last season, aim your barbs at them. Alternatively, they accept bouquets too.
#5. Forward of the season
The most lethal facet of a starting eleven – players with the ability, skill and finesse to finish off a game or turn it around in the blink of an eye; such is a prestige of a striker. There have been some scintillating performances from strikers not just at the top teams but also those who have shown spirit despite lacking in quality. Who then, are the strikers who stand out as the shining lights at their club?
#6. Match of the season
What game made your pulse race the most, this past season? Was it a veritable clash of titans, or was it a relegation death match between minnows? Was it a championship on the line, or was a manager’s job hanging in the balance? Was it a game where David slew Goliath, or was it one where a star-studded line up made mincemeat of their lesser opposition?
#7. Young Player of the season
They represent the finest young talents in the European football circles. They’re raw, they are energetic and they are highly motivated to prove a point to the world. Some of these prodigies are already highly sought after by some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Has a successor to Lionel Messi been appointed yet?
#8. Goal of the season
We miss the buildup, the passing, the precision that precede a goal, as much as we do the ensuing ecstasy and the tailor-made celebrations. With goals galore all across Europe this past season, it’s hard to recall one particular move of exquisite beauty. We’ve done that for you, and now all you need to do is pick the one that defined an entire season. Can a goal make (or break) someone’s career? We’re eager to hear what you have to say.