The rich history of Real Madrid in the Champions League 1:47
(Reuters) -
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was named UEFA Player of the Year and Carlo Ancelotti took best manager honors, having led the club to its 14th Champions League last season.
Benzema was in top form, scoring 15 goals in the competition and lifting the trophy for the fifth time in his career, after the Spanish side beat Liverpool in the final.
Ancelotti became the first manager to win Europe's most prestigious club trophy four times.
The first time he was with AC Milan in 2003 and then in 2007, before landing it with Real Madrid in 2014.
Real Madrid's French striker Karim Benzema poses with his "UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award 2021/2022" alongside Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti with his "Coach of the Year Award", in Istanbul on August 25 2022, after the draw for the group stage of the Champions League 2022/2023.
(Photo: OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)
Asked how he had managed to be the competition's most successful coach, Ancelotti said: "The passion I have for this sport and the quality of the players."
"Last season there was a fantastic connection between the veterans and the youngsters, there was a fantastic chemistry with the fans that helped us achieve an incredible achievement."
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This is how the groups of the Champions League 2022/2023 remain: teams, crosses, matches and dates
On Benzema, Ancelotti said: "Karim is not only a fantastic striker and tremendous goalscorer, he is a fantastic footballer, supported by a great attitude day in and day out."
"Compared to last year, this year he has improved his knowledge, he knows the game very well, how to manage it and he is a strong leader in the locker room and a good friend of mine. We are lucky to have Karim."
Barcelona's Alexia Putellas won the award for best player of the year, beating England's Beth Mead and Germany's Lena Oberdorf.
Putellas, who had won the award last year along with the Ballon d'Or, scored 34 goals for Barcelona last season, in which the club won all the domestic trophies and reached the Champions League final.
Barcelona's Spanish striker Alexia Putellas receives the "Player of the Year Award" for the 2021/2022 season during the Champions League award ceremony in Istanbul on August 25, 2022. (Photo: OZAN KOSE/ AFP via Getty Images)
However, the 28-year-old did not play in the European Championship after tearing ligaments in her knee in training.
Alexia Putellas Carlo Ancelotti Karim Benzema Real Madrid
