By EFE
25 Oct 2024, 2:31 PM EDT
The Panamanian midfielder Adalberto ‘Coco’ Carrasquilla was named this Thursday as the 2023/24 Concacaf Player of the Year, defeating players of the caliber of the American in the bidding Christian Pulisic and to the Canadian Alphonso Davies.
Carrasquilla, who plays for the American Houston Dynamo, becomes the first Panamanian player to win this awarda reflection of the progress of the country’s team, which is positioned, according to the latest Concacaf ranking, in the fourth box, below Mexico, Canada and the United States.
“I want you to know that I am happy for this award, but I am happier for the support that there was within that nomination“Carrasquilla told the local media.
He highlighted in his message that “this award is first for God, but above all for those Panamanian people who are excited about their selection.”
Among the nominees, names such as that of the Jamaican Leon Baileyfrom the English Aston Villa; Jonathan David from Canada and who plays for French club Lille, and the Mexican Santiago Giménez from Dutch Feyenoord.
“On behalf of Concacaf, congratulations Coco, for a fantastic season,” said the president of Concacaf, Víctor Montagliani, in statements included in a statement from the Panamanian Football Federation (FPF).
A round year
Concacaf highlighted in a note that the 25-year-old midfielder began an excellent season by helping Panama reach the final of the 2023 Gold Cup.
He started six games and scored the decisive penalty in the shootout against the United States in the semifinals. Carrasquilla was recognized as the best player of the national team tournament and named in the ideal eleven of the competition.
The Panamanian continued his stellar season by leading his nation over Costa Rica in the quarterfinals of the 2023/24 Concacaf Nations League, to advance to the finals for the second consecutive edition.
He also enjoyed success in MLS with the Houston Dynamo. Carrasquilla scored six goals in all club competitionshelping the Dynamo qualify for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, claim their second US Open Cup title and reach the league’s Western Conference Final.
With Carrasquilla on the field, Houston advanced over Saint Louis City SC in the first round of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. The club finished its participation against eventual runner-up Columbus Crew.
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