Sevilla’s Navas named Europa League Player of the Season

UEFA’s Technical Observer panel has named Sevilla’s Jesús Navas as the UEFA Europa League Player of the Season on Sunday.

Sevilla’s Jesus Navas celebrates with the trophy after winning the Europa League. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

UEFA’s Technical Observer panel has named Sevilla’s Jesús Navas as the UEFA Europa League Player of the Season on Sunday.

The 37-year-old’s form has been up there with anything from his illustrious career and his season culminated with the wing-back scooping an astonishing fourth Europa League title.

Navas played a pivotal role in Sevilla’s 1-1 draw against Roma in the final, producing a teasing cross that Gianluca Mancini could only divert past his own goalkeeper to restore parity, before his side went on to triumph 4-1 on penalties.

“I know that ‘never give up’ is this team’s motto,” he said following the Budapest decider. “That can certainly be seen on the pitch. We are a family. Those of us who have been here for a longer time, the veterans, pass it on because this competition made us great.”

Bayer Leverkusen’s 20-year-old midfielder Florian Wirtz was Europa League Young Player of the Season, helping the Germans reach the semi-finals before losing 1-0 on aggregate to Roma.