Erling Haaland and Aitana Bonmati win UEFA awards

Manchester City's Erling Haaland and manager Pep Guardiola both picked up UEFA awards for the best men's player and coach of the year, while Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati was named UEFA women's player of the year.

The Norwegian striker beat his team mate Kevin De Bruyne and 2022 World Cup champion Lionel Messi to the gong after helping City win three major trophies - the Champions League, English Premier League and FA Cup - in his first season with the club.

The 22-year-old, who earlier in the week was named England's Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player of the Year, scored 52 goals in 53 matches across all competitions last season.

"I won the treble at the age of 22. I'm kind of living the dream," he said at the ceremony in Monaco.

"This season is about keeping my head clear. Even more eyes will be on me and my team after winning the Champions League. We have to be sharper and more prepared."

✨ Champions League
✨ Premier League
✨ FA Cup
✨ Super Cup
✨ UCL Golden Boot
✨ PL Golden Boot
✨ PL Player of the Season
✨ PL Young Player of the Season
✨ FWA Footballer of the Year
✨ PFA Player of the Year
🆕 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year pic.twitter.com/5e30KdW2ls

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 31, 2023

Guardiola was voted ahead of Italians Luciano Spalletti, who led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years, and Simone Inzaghi whose Inter Milan side were Champions League runners-up and won the Italian Cup.

The Spanish manager was not present to receive the award as he is recovering from back surgery.

FC Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati was named UEFA women's player of the year and dedicated her award and said that abuse of power in a work relationship cannot be allowed, as she addressed the turmoil surrounding the Spanish football federation.

𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐀, 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐑 𝐉𝐔𝐆𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐀 𝐃'𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐀 🏆 pic.twitter.com/S9FPYj9YW6

— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) August 31, 2023

"This is not a good moment in Spanish football," Bonmati said after winning the UEFA women's player of the year award.

"We have just won the World Cup, but they are not talking much about it," she said, referring to the outrage after the head of the Spanish soccer federation, Luis Rubiales, kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain's victory in the Women's World Cup.