UEFA President Speaks Armenian as he Announces Henrikh Mkhitaryan as the Nation’s Footballer of the Year

UEFA President Michel Platini spoke Armenian as he announced the name of the Armenian footballer of the year.

Platini opened the closed envelope and read out Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s name.

Midfielder of the Armenian national team and Borussia Dortmund Henrikh Mkhitaryan was named Armenia’s Footballer of the Year by the Football Federation of Armenia for the third time in a row.

The 24-year-old player whose transfer to the Bundesliga side worth €27.5 (about $37.8) million last summer proved to be a record for Armenian soccer gathered 244 points.

Spartak Moscow striker Movsisyan gathered 177 points and took second place, followed by his teammate Aras Ozbiliz (47 points).

Also on Tuesday the former head coach of the Armenian national team Vardan Minasyan was awarded as Armenia’s best coach of the year.

FFA Awards ceremony-2013 took place on December 24. Henrikh Mkhitaryan spoke about his feelings and future plans.

-What do you feel after being named the footballer of the year for the fourth time?
-Of course it was a pleasure to become Armenian player of the year. I want to thank all my teammates in national team. I could not reach success if there weren’t them. Yura Movsisyan and Aras Ozbiliz also deserved the prize.

-What did you feel, when UEFA president Michelle Platini announced your name in special video message?
-I think, that it was a surprise for me, as well as for all the others. Of course, it was a big pleasure, because it’s not usual to hear the UEFA president announce your name.

-Let’s speak about your future plans?
-I am leaving for holidays on December 28 and have to join Borussia Dortmund on January 5, as our team starts trainings.
After that we will have a training campaign for 8 days in La-Manga, Spain, getting prepared for the second part of the season.

-What will you wish to our fans?
-I wish Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of them. Also I wish them always to be near us and be healthy. I hope that 2014 will be a year of success and we will be able to make our fans happy.