It was dream come true for Nadine Kessler last year when she was crowned FIFA Female World Player of the Year 2014. Afterwards, she told FIFA.com that she was surprised about the aftermath of having won the award: “The amount of media attention that resulted from the award was unbelievable. The news went around the whole world and I certainly felt that my profile was raised from this.”
However, Kessler will be quite relaxed on Monday when the “Ballon d’Or 2015” takes place in Zurich: The 27-year-old Wolfsburg midfielder has not been nominated this year following an unfortunate injury spell. Germany is still represented in the top 3 with Celia Sasic, who is looking to become the third consecutive World Player of the Year from Germany after Nadine Angerer and Nadine Kessler received the award in the last two years respectively.
Nadine Kessler: “Celia Sasic is a great role model”
“Celia is one of the best strikers in the world and extremely clinical in front of goal,” said Kessler when asked about the World Cup golden boot winner. “She’s finished atop of several goalscorer leader boards. On the pitch she is extremely emotional and a great role model.” The 2014 winner expects an exciting decision between three exceptional footballers who all have their individual qualities. Sasic will be up against American Carli Lloyd and Japan’s Aya Miyama.
“Aya Miyama is a player with fantastic technical abilities,” said Kessler, praising the Japanese international.: “She reads the games and dictates the rhythm of her team.” Kessler was more impressed with the best player of the 2015 World Cup in Canada though. “Carli Lloyd had an amazing World Cup. She comes across as a very calm person, but on the pitch she has a lot of moments that can push a team to a new level. She led her team to the title, both through her individual qualities and in the way she led the team.”
“It’s a fact that Carli Lloyd would be worthy of this award. If you are the captain of the World Cup winning side, showed fantastic performances during the World Cup, scoring amazing goals, then you are quite clearly the favourite,” said Kessler, despite obviously hoping that her fellow countrywoman will get the award.
Women’s World Coach of the Year: Kessler expects a tight race
Kessler expects a very tight race for the award of FIFA Women’s World Coach of the Year. The coaches of the top three nations at the 2015 World Cup made the short-list: Jill Ellis (USA), Norio Sasaki (Japan) and Welshmen Mark Sampson (England).
“The Japanese team had to rebuild their team after a transition phase,” said Kessler. “But it’s still remarkable what their coach is capable of doing with the team. Sampson gave England a completely new outlook. They are playing more dynamically and more aggressively, which is something English players are known for. But he also gave them a good tactical and technical education which shows throughout the entire team.”
Still, the reigning FIFA Female World Player of the Year sees American Ellis as the favourite: “The case of Ellis is similar to Lloyd’s. She had a lot of pressure going into the World Cup but she made the right decisions and formed a great team spirit amongst all these great individuals. Their team spirit made them so strong during the tournament. Ellis got the most out of her players.”
