Manchester City, Chelsea stars dominate UEFA award nominations

Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is up for another major individual honor after being shortlisted for the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year on Thursday.

The European football governing body unveiled the three finalists for the prestigious award, with Chelsea’s Jorginho and N’Golo Kante nominated alongside De Bruyne.

De Bruyne is coming off an incredible 2020-21 campaign in which he was named the PFA Player of the Year after helping Manchester City win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final.

Meanwhile, the two Chelsea midfielders played an integral role with the Blues and won the Champions League in May.

Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski was last season’s winner.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is also shortlisted for the UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year award with Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel and Italy’s Euro 2020-winning tactician Roberto Mancini.

Former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick, who now coaches the German national team, won last season’s award.

On the women’s side, three Barcelona players – Jennifer Hermoso, Lieke Martens, and Alexia Putellas – are nominated for the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year honor.

Lluis Cortes of Barcelona, Sweden’s Peter Gerhardsson, and England manager Emma Hayes are nominated for the UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year award.

The winners will be announced during the Champions group stage draw on Aug. 26.