Slovakian Player of the Year Robert Vittek (¿Getty
Images)
Robert Vittek is the toast of Slovakia after the nation's
Player of the Year award proved to be a cracking birthday treat for his
wife.
Mintal double
The 24-year-old forward picked up his first Player of the Year award on
Wednesday to complete a remarkable hat-trick for his German club, 1. FC
Nurnberg. With team-mate Marek Mintal winning the prize in 2004 and 2005,
Nurnberg players have held a monopoly of the title for three years.
High marks
A jury of 36 - 20 coaches and 16 journalists - voted as the award was
handed out for the 14th time, with Vittek emerging as the clear winner
with 347 points out of a possible 360. FC Zenit St Petersburg defender
Martin Skrtel finished second with 279 points while Rosenborg BK midfielder
Marek Sapara finished third with 190 points.
Birthday treat
"It was a pleasure for me and the best posible gift for my wife,
who celebrates her birthday today," said Robert Vittek during ceremony
in Bratislava's Crowne Plaza Hotel. "Also I would like to wish a
good luck to my injured team-mate Marek Mintal. He needs it so much these
days."
Excellent season
Vittek finished fourth in the 2005 poll but came into his own last season
with 18 goals in the 2005/06 Bundesliga campaign, including hat-tricks
in two consecutive games back in March. Just two goals in 14 Bundesliga
games in 2006/07 has represented a slight disappointment by comparison.
German sojourn
Having begun his career with his hometown side SK Slovan Bratislava back
in the 1999/00 season, Vittek has now been in Germany for three years,
having joined Nurnberg midway through the 2003/04 campaign, and has been
a regular for the national team since 2001.
International experience
A knee injury suffered in a friendly game against Malta in August put
him out of action for five weeks, but he returned to score for Slovakia
in their 5-1 UEFA EURO 2008T qualifying win against Wales in Cardiff on
7 October and remains an important player for new coach Jan Kocian.
Russian offer
In June, FC Lokomotiv Moskva offered Nurnberg ?10m to bring Vittek to
the Russian capital, but the player elected to stay in the Bundesliga,
signing a contract until 2010. "We are happy Robert agreed to stay
with us," said in Nurnberg sporting director Martin Bader.
By Rastislav Hribik from Bratislava. ,
21 December 2006.
