Messi, Suarez and Ronaldo up for best player in Europe award.

The trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo have been announced as the final candidates for the 2014-15 Uefa Best Player in Europe award. European football’s governing body announced the 10man longlist for the individual award in July, and UEFA confirmed on Wednesday that Messi, Suarez and Ronaldo were selected for the three-man shortlist.
Ronaldo, who picked up the trophy last year, earns another nomination after a season in which he scored 61 goals in 54 appearances and claimed the Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup.

Messi and Suarez, meanwhile, formed a fearsome attacking partnership with Neymar that helped inspire Barcelona to the treble in Luis Enrique’s first season in charge.

Chelsea star Eden Hazard finished sixth after inspiring Jose Mourinho’s side to the Premier League title last term, winning the PFA Player of the year award in the process.
Past winners include Messi (2011), Andres Iniesta (2012), Franck Ribery (2013) and Ronaldo (2014).
Despite finishing third in the 2015 Ballon d’Or, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer only managed to secure 12th spot in the UEFA longlist voting.
Meanwhile, Real’s most expensive ever signing Gareth Bale finished joint-19th with Lyon’s Andre-Pierre Gignac after a frustrating campaign at the Bernabeu.
UEFA also announced the Best Women’s Player of 2014-15 shortlist, with France midfielder Amandine Henry up against German duo Dzsenifer Marozsan and Celia Sasic.

Cristiano Ronaldo reveals the only coach he has friendship with.

I know it can never be Jose Mourinho, his relationship with his fellow country man during the latter’s reign at the Bernabeu was a disaster, dunno if it has remained so.

Newly-crowned UEFA Best Player in Europe, Cristiano Ronalso has worked under a number of coaches in his career; former Manchester United coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini and renowned Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari, but he’s friend with just one of these- Sir Alex Ferguson.

Excerpts from his interview with Spanish publication AS. “Out of all the coaches I worked under, the only friendship I have is with Sir Alex Ferguson – no one else… I worked under Pellegrini and Ancelotti, with whom I get along really well. I’m not in football to make friends, only to triumph.”

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