Canadian Soccer Association to recognize missing winners

As part of the Canadian Soccer Association’s centennial year and in advance of selection of the 2012 BMO Canadian Players of the Year, the Association will unveil 12 “missing” winners that were previously not awarded in six past seasons. The retro winners will complete the 20 player award seasons since the Canadian Player of the Year award was first introduced in 1993.

The retro winners were selected with the help of past Canadian national coaches for 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004. Coaches were asked to consider performances at both the club and international levels. The winners – a male and female footballer for each season – will be announced on Wednesday 5 December.

Voting for the 2012 BMO Canadian Players of the Year runs 26 November through 7 December, with winners to be announced in the week of 10 December. Canadian media and coaches vote for the annual BMO Canadian Players of the Year.

In 1993, Alex Bunbury was voted the first-ever Canadian Player of the Year. One year later, both Craig Forrest and Charmaine Hooper were selected 1994 Canadian Players of the Year, with Hooper the first women’s footballer selected.

Since 2005, the Canadian Soccer Association has annually selected two Canadian U-20 Players of the Year (male and female). Since 2007, the Association has annually selected two Canadian U-17 Players of the Year (male and female). In 2012, voting for the Canadian U-20 Players of the Year and Canadian U-17 Players of the Year will again be open to Canadian coaches.

Starting this year, the Association will recognize an annual Canadian Para Soccer Player of the Year. The first winner will be selected by coaching staff of the Canadian Para Soccer program and be unveiled on Friday 7 December.

Also starting in 2012, the Canadian Soccer Association has recognized the Canada Soccer Players of the Month. In the first 10 months, five players have already won the honour twice, with Olivier Occean, Patrice Bernier and Atiba Hutchinson twice winning monthly honours on the men’s side and both Christine Sinclair and Diana Matheson twice winning monthly honours on the women’s side. The November 2012 Canada Soccer Players of the Month will be announced on Monday 3 December.

CANADIAN PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
2012 – TBA
2011 – Dwayne De Rosario and Christine Sinclair
2010 – Atiba Hutchinson and Christine Sinclair
2009 – Simeon Jackson and Christine Sinclair
2008 – Julian de Guzman and Christine Sinclair
2007 – Dwayne De Rosario and Christine Sinclair
2006 – Dwayne De Rosario and Christine Sinclair
2005 – Dwayne De Rosario and Christine Sinclair
2004 – TBA (missing winners)
2003 – TBA (missing winners)
2002 – Jason deVos and Charmaine Hooper
2001 – TBA (missing winners)
2000 – TBA (missing winners)
1999 – TBA (missing winners)
1998 – Tomasz Radzinski and Silvana Burtini
1997 – TBA (missing winners)
1996 – Paul Peschisolido and Geraldine Donnelly
1995 – Alex Bunbury and Charmaine Hooper
1994 – Craig Forrest and Charmaine Hooper
1993 – Alex Bunbury