Ben Sigmund’s efforts in the heart of the Wellington Phoenix defence have earned him the Sony Player of the Year award at the club’s annual awards night.
The 30-year-old defender started 28 of the Phoenix’s 31 matches this season, playing a big part as they reached the play-offs for the second successive year.
The New Zealand international missed just two of the regular season games because of suspension but one of the highlights of the campaign was his dramatic winner against Adelaide which he headed home in their 2-1 win in his home town of Christchurch.
“Whenever Ben takes the field you know you will never get less than 100 percent from him,” coach Ricki Herbert said.
“If you need him to play out of position it doesn’t faze him. He just gets on with the job. Every team needs players like Siggy. He has had an outstanding season.”
Teenage midfielder Marco Rojas took two trophies home after winning the Under 23 player of the year and Media player of the year award.
The 19-year-old set the latter part of the season alight as he stepped up to fill the breach when talisman Paul Ifill was ruled out with a nasty leg injury.
Tenacious midfielder Manny Muscat also bagged a double, voted Players- player of the year by his team-mates before winning the Members- player of the year title.
The top goal scorer award went to Chris Greenacre, who netted eight goals and edged out Ifill and Dylan Macallister who got seven each.
