Barcelona star wins another football award

Barcelona’s young midfielder and Dutch youngster, Frenkie de Jong on Monday received the Johan Cruyff Talent of the Year award in Hilversum, Holland.

The Johan Cruyff Talent of the Year award has been on offer since 1984 and is awarded to the most talented player in the top two Dutch divisions under the age of 21 years of age.

The entire jury for the season 2018-2019 were Jordi Cruyff, Wim Jonk, John van den Brom, Willy Dullens, Pierre van Hooijdonk, John van ‘t Schip, Kenneth Perez, Dick Advocaat, Danny Buijs, Mark van Bommel, Jaap Stam, Youri Mulder, Erik ten Hag en, Frank Rijkaard. The criteria are linked to the 14-rules of Johan Cruyff.

Since Johan passed away, his son Jordi Cruyff took over as chairman of the jury.

Past winners of the award include Arjen Robben (2003), Salomon Kalou (2005), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (2006), Christian Eriksen (2011), and Memphis Depay (2015) among others.

The award was originally called the Dutch talent of the year award but the name was changed in 2003 to include the name of the Holland footballing legend.

De Jong starred as Ajax knocked out Real Madrid and reached the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League last season.

In a remarkable 2018-19 season for the young Dutch talent, de Jong claimed the Eredivisie Player of the Season, was named in the Eredivisie Team of the Season, made the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season, and only recently received the UEFA Midfielder of the Season award.

The Dutch midfielder succeeds previous winner and former Ajax team mate Matthijs de Ligt. Other former Barça winners of the award include Ibrahim Afellay, Mark Van Bommel and Patrick Kluivert.