SYDNEY - Adelaide playmaker Marcos Flores has continued the run of foreign players to claim the Johnny Warren Medal, earning the A-League's highest individual honour after a stellar first full season in Australia.
The Argentine was awarded the prize for the player of the year in Sydney, polling 618 votesfrom his peers to finish well ahead of Brisbane Roar duo Thomas Broich (495) and Matt McKay (432).
Flores was irresistible this season, scoring eight goals and assisting eight others in 29 appearances as Adelaide finished third before being knocked out by Gold Coast in the finals.
"I want to share this with my teammates, and the whole club, everybody worked so hard." said Flores, who joined Adelaide late last season from Chilean club Curico Unido.
Flores becomes the third straight foreign player to win the award, following Melbourne's Costa Rican midfielder Carlos Hernandez last season and New Zealand striker Shane Smeltz in 2008/09.
Brisbane Roar had a strong presence at the awards ceremony ahead of their grand final showdown with Central Coast Mariners next Sunday.
The premiers picked up four gongs: Ange Postecoglou named coach of the year, Michael Theoklitos goalkeeper of the year and the team received the fair play award for lowest number of yellow and red cards.
Midfielder Erik Paartalu earned the goal of the year award for his stunning left-footed volley against Gold Coast United last month.
Teenage goalkeeper Mathew Ryan of grand final rivals the Mariners was named young footballer of the year.
Adelaide striker Sergio van Dijk won the golden boot award for netting 16 goals, Gold Coast's Steven Lustica was named National Youth League player of the year and Matthew Breeze referee of the year.
- AAP
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