Soccer: Nelsen wins sixth player of the year award

New Zealand All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Ryan Nelsen picked up the men's player of the year accolade for the sixth time in his career at New Zealand Football's annual awards dinner in Auckland tonight.

The All Whites' World Cup skipper scooped the award for his influence and performance at that tournament in South Africa last year and in the English Premiership League for Blackburn Rovers.

Nelsen was doubly rewarded at the red carpet event honouring football's high achievers in the 2010 calendar year, winning the Oceania player of the year title for the second time.

His two-gong haul was matched Ali Riley, who won both her third successive women's player of the year title and second consecutive Oceania title.

Tommy Smith prevailed in a tight field in the young player category due to his World Cup credentials, when he played every minute of the campaign, plus the 30 games he played for English Championship side Ipswich Town.

The women's young player of the year was Olivia Chance.

The All Whites' unbeaten run at the World Cup predictably saw them pick up the team of the year award, while Ricki Herbert was named coach of the year for masterminding that campaign and Wellington Phoenix's charge into the A-League playoffs.

Awards winners:-

Team: All Whites.

Coach: Ricki Herbert (All Whites and Wellington Phoenix)

Men's player: Ryan Nelsen (All Whites and Blackburn Rovers)

Women's player: Ali Riley (Football Ferns and FC Gold Pride)

Young men's player (under-20): Tommy Smith (All Whites and Ipswich Town)

Young women's player (under-20): Olivia Chance (New Zealand under-17 and Claudelands Rovers)

Referee: Michael Hester

Assistant referee: Jan-Hendrick Hintz

National league player of year: Allan Pearce (Waitakere United)

Women's youth league player: Renee Leota (Capital Football)

National league golden boot: Allan Pearce (Waitakere United, 13 goals)

Women's youth league golden boot: Renee Leota (Capital Football, 13 goals)

Oceania award winners:-

Men's player: Ryan Nelsen (NZ)

Women's player: Ali Riley (NZ).

- NZPA