Egypt coach nominates Salah for ‘Best’ FIFA player award

Egypt national team coach Javier Aguirre has revealed that he voted for Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah to compete for the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award.

“I voted for Salah, Antoine Griezmann and Luka Modric in the the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award,” Aguirre told a radio programme late on Wednesday.

Liverpool and Egyptian winger Salah has been included in the final list of the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award candidates alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Modric, FIFA announced.

“All Egyptians hope for modest Salah, despite his comparison with Ronaldo, Messi and Modric,” said Aguirre.

The Best FIFA Football Awards recognise the finest in each category for their respective achievements during the period from 3 July 2017 to 15 July 2018 for the men’s category, and from 7 August 2017 to 24 May 2018 for the women’s.

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FIFA will announce the winner of the awards at a ceremony in London on 24 September.

Aguirre replaced Argentinean Hector Cuper as Egypt coach last month; Cuper had led the Pharaohs this summer in Egypt’s first World Cup since 1990.

“I preferred to coach Egypt’s national team despite having an offer from South Korea,” Aguirre said.

“When Cuper left the team, the EFA contacted me to be in charge of the team; meanwhile South Korea Football Association were in talks with me, but I preferred to coach the Pharaohs.

The Egypt national team is an interesting project,” the Mexican coach said.

Aguirre’s first competitive match in charge of Egypt will be against Niger on Saturday in the 2019 Cup of Nations qualifiers.