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Van der Vaart voted 'Talent Of The Year'

20 January: Ajax' 18 year-old gem Rafaël van der Vaart has won the award for 'Talent Of The Year', on the annual gala-night of the Dutch Union of Professional Football Players (VVCS), which took place at the Sports Centre in Zeist.

Rafael van der Vaart [Photo: ANP]

The year 2001 was spectacular for Van der Vaart, who became an indispensable player for Ajax, aged only 17. He is Ajax' current topscorer and also made his début in the Dutch national team at age. Those facts were enough to beat the other nominees: Vitesse's Theo Janssen (2nd) and Sparta's David Mendes da Silva (3rd).

The big winner of the night was, understandably, PSV. The Eindhoven club won the 2001 championship in glorious style and also grabbed the Johan Cruijff Shield (formerly known as Dutch Super Cup) in August. PSV midfielder Mark van Bommel won the award for 'Player Of The Year'. He finished ahead of Feyenoord's Paul Bosvelt (2nd) and his PSV team mate, Kevin Hofland (3rd).

The award for 'Goalkeeper Of The Year' also went to Eindhoven. Ronald Waterreus win it, beating his FC Utrecht colleague Harald Wapenaar (2nd) and NAC's Hungarian goalie, Gabór Babós.

RKC Waalwijk coach Martin Jol won the award for 'Coach Of The Year', finishing ahead of Sef Vergoossen, who left Roda JC this summer and is now succesful at Belgian side Racing Genk. The third position was claimed by PSV coach Eric Gerets.

NEC, from Nijmegen, was crowned as the 'Club Of The Year', leaving First Division side FC Zwolle (2nd) and FC Utrecht (3rd) behind.

Finally, Thomas Buffel, playing for Feyenoord's satellite club Excelsior, was voted 'First Division Player Of The Year'. He was deemed better than two veterans of the 2001 First Division champions and current Eredivisie side FC Den Bosch. Fred van der Hoorn finished second, as former Ajacied Arnold Scholten claimed the third position.

The voting for the VVCS Awards is done by the members of the Player's Union: the Dutch professional football players themselves. Therefore, the VVCS Awards are generally regarded as the most prestigious football awards in Holland. (MP)