Karim Benzema and Alexia Putellas win UEFA player of the year prizes

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelloti won the UEFA manager of the year award for winning his fourth European title during the last season.

Karim Benzema (R) and Alexia Putellas (L) pose with their UEFA Player of the Year trophies. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was named UEFA Player of the Year while Barcelona women’s Alexia Putellas won the women’s award on Thursday.

Benzema was in red-hot form, scoring 15 times in the competition and lifting the trophy for a fifth time in his career after the Spanish side beat Liverpool in the final.

Putellas, who won award last year along with the Ballon d’Or, netted 34 goals for Barcelona last season as the club won all the domestic trophies and reached the Champions League final.

However, the 28-year-old did not play in the Euros after tearing her knee ligaments in training.

Carlo Ancelotti took the coaching honours after they led the club to a record-extending 14th Champions League title last season.

Ancelotti became the first coach to win Europe’s most prestigious club trophy four times. He first won the title with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007 before claiming it with Real in 2014.