Durante named Wellington Phoenix Player of the Year

Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante has been named the club’s Player of the Year.

The former Newcastle Jets defender was awarded as Wellington’s SONY Player of the Year at the club’s annual award night last night.

Durante played every minute of every game in the regular season and was voted for on a 3-2-1 basis by a panel of five coaches – Ricki Herbert, Luciano Trani, Jonathan Gould, chief executive Tony Pignata and football operations manager Mal Impiombato.

The centre-half polled 117 votes, with midfielder Vince Lia second on 110 and striker Paul Ifill on 101.

In other Phoenix award news, Barbadian-born English import Ifill almost stole the show, winning the Player’s Player of the Year, Members’ Player of the Year, Media Player of the Year and the Golden Boot whilst Troy Hearfield was named the U23 Player of the Year.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert said Durante was a deserved winner of the award and labeled him as the best centre-back in the league.

“Paul Ifill certainly grabbed the attention and the headlines but Andrew’s work on defence was top-shelf throughout the season. Scoring goals up one end is great but counts for nothing if you can’t keep the opposition out at the other end,” Herbert said.

“In that regard Andrew has been outstanding. His partnerships with Jon McKain and Ben Sigmund at the heart of the back four have been superb and his leadership on and off the field integral to all the success the team has enjoyed this season.

“It was no surprise to anyone at the club when Andrew was picked for the Socceroos – it was deserved reward for a player who is clearly the best centre back in the Hyundai A-League.”