Football Federation Australia (FFA) and NAB, together with the Central Coast Mariners, are proud to announce Paul Izzo as the February nominee for the Hyundai A-League, NAB Young Footballer of the Year 2016/17 Award.
The nomination is Izzo’s first ever for the NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award.
Izzo is the fifth player nominated for the Hyundai A-League, NAB Young Footballer of the Year 2016/17 Award following Sydney FC duo Brandon O’Neill (October) and Josh Brillante (November), Western Sydney Wanderers FC defender Jonathan Aspropotamitis (December) and Brisbane Roar FC’s Brandon Borello (January).
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Izzo’s outstanding performances as the Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper have helped his side to their most successful run of matches since 2014. The 22-year-old shot stopper follows in the footsteps of Socceroos’ & former Mariners’ goalkeeper Mat Ryan who won the NAB Young Footballer of the Year award two seasons running (2010/11 and 2011/12).
“To be recognised as a young player in the league that’s doing well so far is great and hopefully we can finish off the season doing even better for ourselves,” Izzo said. “I have to pay credit to Matt Nash [goalkeeping coach] the amount of work he does for me: preparing clips before games and doing things that he doesn’t have to do – shows how much effort he has put into me and I can’t thank him enough.
“Young goalkeepers like Maty Ryan and Mark Birighitti are players that I look up to and have taken a path that I would like to replicate. They spent a few seasons in the Hyundai A-League making big names for themselves and their next step was overseas which is something I would like to achieve.
“First things first, the team is number one focus but the individual accolades that come along the way are a bonus and it’s great to get that recognition and makes me really proud.
“For the rest of the season we want to crack the top six and do something that not many people would have expected us to do this season, I am working extremely hard to do my part and help influence that,” Izzo said.
The Hyundai A-League NAB Young Footballer of the Year 2016/17 will be announced at the Dolan Warren Awards Night.
National Australia Bank’s General Manager Wealth, Personal Banking, Ann-Marie Chamberlain, said she is delighted to see the NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award continue to unearth the stars of tomorrow.
“We congratulate Paul on his nomination and look forward to watching his development and growth on the football field in the years to come,” said Chamberlain.
“We are also pleased to recognise Paul’s nominated junior club, Campbelltown City in South Australia, and hope that our support will help the club to continue developing the game at a local grassroots level.”
NAB has generously donated a $2,000 NAB Club Recognition Award to Izzo’s nominated junior club, which includes a range of equipment along with a financial reward.
The overall winner of the Hyundai A-League, NAB Young Footballer of the Year 2016/17 Award will receive a $10,000 personal investment portfolio, along with a NAB Private Client Manager to assist with a range of banking and financial services.
“As a supporter of the NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award, we are proud to play an important role in identifying and rewarding the future stars of the game. Who knows, we may even see some of the nominees donning the boots for the Socceroos in the future,” Chamberlain continued.
Each month representatives from the FFA Technical department vote on a 3-2-1 basis for the most outstanding U-23 players in the Hyundai A-League during that period.
