The UEFA President's Award recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities. The accolade, first introduced by UEFA in 1998, is usually awarded annually to a football personality who is deemed to have advanced the game's development and success.[1][2]
The 2021 UEFA President's Award went to Denmark's national football team captain and their medical and coaching staff for their heroic response when Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during a Euro 2020 match against Finland. During the game, Eriksen collapsed unexpectedly, and his teammates quickly formed a protective circle around him to shield him from the cameras, providing privacy while the medical team performed life-saving CPR. Denmark’s captain, Simon Kjær, played a crucial role in comforting Eriksen’s partner and directing the team to support each other. The medical team’s swift response saved Eriksen’s life, and their professionalism and composure were widely praised.[3]
Recently, Eric Cantona has become infamous for his bizarre acceptance speech for the 2019 UEFA Presidents Award. Dressed in a flat cap, he began by quoting William Shakespeare's King Lear – "As flies to wanton boys we are for the gods" – before referencing science, war and crime.[4]
| Year | Winner | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 |  Jacques Delors
|
[5] |
| 1999 | Not Awarded | |
| 2000 | Guy Roux
| |
| 2001 |  Juan Santisteban
| |
| 2002 |  Bobby Robson
| |
| 2003 |  Paolo Maldini
| |
| 2004 |  Ernie Walker
| |
| 2005 |  Frank Rijkaard
| |
| 2006 |  Wilfried Straub
| |
| 2007 |  Alfredo Di Stéfano
| |
| 2008 | Bobby Charlton
| |
| 2009 |  Eusébio
| |
| 2010 | Raymond Kopa
| |
| 2011 | Gianni Rivera
| |
| 2012 | Franz Beckenbauer
| |
| 2013 | Johan Cruyff
| |
| 2014 |  Josef Masopust
| |
| 2015 | Not Awarded | |
| 2016 | Not Awarded | |
| 2017 | Francesco Totti
|
[3] |
| 2018 | David Beckham
|
[6] |
| 2019 | Eric Cantona
|
[7] |
| 2020 |  Didier Drogba
|
[8] |
| 2021 |  Mogens Kreutzfeldt Frederik Flensted Anders Boesen Peder Ersgaard Jens Kleinefeld  Valentin Velikov Morten Skjoldager Morten Boesen Simon Kjær
|
[9] |
| 2022 | Arrigo Sacchi
|
[10] |
| 2023 | Miroslav Klose
|
[11] |
| 2024 | Gianluigi Buffon
|
[12] |
| 2025 |  Zlatan Ibrahimović
|
[13] |
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