Quebecer Ismaël Koné was named Young Player of the Year by Canada Soccer for a second consecutive year, the national federation announced Wednesday.
Koné, who was also crowned Most Outstanding Player at the international level at the annual Soccer Québec gala in November, wore the colors of Canada six times in 2023. He scored his first goal at home in November against Jamaica .
With his club, the 21-year-old midfielder has made over 30 appearances for Watford FC, who play in England’s second division. In 1984 minutes of play, the Montrealer scored one goal and made two assists.
On the women’s side, Ontarian Jade Rose was named Young Player of the Year by Canada Soccer, for the third time in four years in her case. She also received this honor in 2020 and 2021.
Rose played nine games for Canada this year, helping the women’s national team qualify for the Paris Olympics. However, she missed the World Cup which took place last summer in Australia and New Zealand due to injury.
In college, with Harvard University, Rose helped his team reach the second round of the NCAA Championship for the second year in a row.
Another Quebecer was honored by Canada Soccer on Wednesday. Safwane Mlah was named Futsal Player of the Year.
Aged 22, Mlah will participate in his second Concacaf Futsal Championship in 2024. With his club, Sporting Montréal FC, he won the Quebec Futsal Cup in 2022-23, in addition to reaching the final of the Canadian Futsal Championship.
For his part, Samuel Charron, from Ottawa, was rewarded as Para-soccer Player of the Year. This is the fourth time he has received this honor.
The 25-year-old scored his 50th international goal for Canada in 2023 and led the country in goals scored for the seventh time in his career. The captain of the Canadian team has now amassed 51 career goals in 60 international sevens soccer matches.
The winners were chosen by the coaches of Canada Soccer’s national programs.
The co-winners of the Canada Soccer Players of the Year awards will be announced later this week, including one player from the men’s national team and one player from the women’s national team. Voting for the Players of the Year awards is compiled from Canadian coaches and media representatives.
