MONACO, Aug 30: France’s Zinedine Zidane, whose spectacular goal clinched Real Madrid’s ninth European Cup as they beat Bayer Leverkusen in May, was named the most valuable player in the Champions League for last season’s performances.

The award was announced at UEFA’s annual gala dinner at which the European governing body’s president Lennart Johansson also gave a special award to Sir Bobby Robson, the 69-year-old Newcastle United manager, for his lifetime contribution to the game.

Real Madrid swept four of the six awards with Roberto Carlos being named the best defender, Raul the best forward for the third successive year, Zidane the best player and Vicente del Bosque as the best coach.

The other awards went to Bayern Munich keeper Oliver Kahn, who won that category for the fourth successive season, and Michael Ballack, now Kahn’s team mate but named best midfielder of the season for his performances with Bayer Leverkusen.

Awards:

Best Goalkeeper: Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich)

Also nominated: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus); Jerzy Dudek (Liverpool)

Best Defender: Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid)

Also nominated: Cafu (AS Roma), Sami Hyypia (Liverpool)

Best Midfielder: Michael Ballack (Bayer Leverkusen)

Also nominated: Roy Keane (Manchester United), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal)

Best Forward: Raul (Real Madrid)

Also nominated: David Trezeguet (Juventus), Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Manchester United)

Most Valuable Player: Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)

Also nominated: Raul (Real Madrid), Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Manchester United)

Best Coach: Vicente Del Bosque (Real Madrid)

Also nominated: Alex Ferguson (Manchester United); Klaus Toppmoeller (Bayer Leverkusen)

President’s Award: Bobby Robson (manager, Newcastle United).—Reuters