Carlos Hernandez has been named Football Media Association player of the year.
Melbourne Victory attacking midfielder Carlos Hernandez has been named the Football Media Association (FMA) of Australia-s inaugural Hyundai A-League player of the Year.
Capping a wonderful season for club and player, Hernandez was voted a runaway winner by the members of the FMA, which comprises a wide cross section of the media throughout the country.
The Costa Rican has had a fabulous season, notching 12 goals – second only to Gold Coast United’s Shane Smeltz (19) – and is playing a leading role in Melbourne’s charge to this season’s Hyundai A-League grand final.
“We believe that as the Hyundai A-League has developed so too should a strong and representative association of football media writers, broadcasters and multi-media professionals.” FMA Chairman Steve Dettre said.
“This award is a reflection of a shared view by our members, that skill, flair and goals should always be the focus of the nation’s premier football competition.”
“We congratulate Carols and applaud his efforts for the season.”
Hernandez’s has now claimed two of the biggest individual awards in the local game after he was named the Johnny Warren Medal winner for the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 Players’ Player-of-the-year two weeks ago.
The 27-year-old, who has been capped 30 times (6 goals) for Costa Rica, was a clear winner in the FMA award with 83 points – 23 ahead of Wellington Phoenix striker Paul Ifill, with Smeltz third on 26 points.
This is the first time that the FMA, which was formed in 2008, has initiated a Hyundai A-League award and we believe it will become an integral part of the Hyundai A-League landscape.
The top six as voted by FMA members:
83 points Carlos Hernandez (Melbourne Victory)
60 Paul Ifill (Wellington Phoenix)
26 Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast united)
17 Matt Thompson (Newcastle Jets)
15 Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United)
10 Steve Corica (Sydney FC)
