Melbourne City FC has officially concluded its 2021/22 Men’s season with its Player of the Year awards held on Wednesday night.
Patrick Kisnorbo’s squad continually overcame challenge after challenge in what was another season that saw the team lift silverware.
City became the first Australian team to go through its debut AFC Champions League campaign undefeated, and was unluckily to miss qualification to the knockout stages. The team then returned to Australia to seal back-to-back Premierships in its final match of the season, before falling short of the Championship in what was a third consecutive Grand Final appearance.
Attacking midfielder Florin Berenger was pivotal for City throughout the season, scoring five goals and providing four assists, although the numbers don’t really do his impact justice.
The Frenchman was vital to City’s attack all season and his Wednesday night haul showed; winning Player of the Year, while also being voted by his teammates as Players’ Player of the Year and by members as the Etihad Members’ Player of the Year.
Jamie Maclaren again won the Club (and League’s) Golden Boot, netting 18 goals in all completions in a City shirt this season. Maclaren scored the on the night City that lifted the Premiers Plate, while also scored in extra-time of the Semi Final second leg to send the team to the Grand Final.
Midfielder Aiden O’Neill was one of City’s most consistent players throughout the A-League Men season, playing a crucial and often unheralded role at the base of midfield.
Although his season unfortunately ended in April due to a broken metatarsal, his impact was clearly still felt amongst the playing group and staff as he received the Clubman Award.
19-year-old Jordan Bos was the recipient of the Rising Star, following what was a breakout campaign. Capable of playing anywhere on the left-hand side, Bos made an impressive Club debut in City’s season-opening FFA Cup win over South Melbourne.
He remained in and around the senior squad throughout the season, making 22 appearances (12 starts) and featured in all six of the team’s AFC Champions League fixtures.
In terms of the staff awards, U21 Academy Head Coach Crisdion Krstevski won Football Department Employee of the Year while James Paterson, Acting Head of Legal, took out the Administration Department Employee of the Year. Kay Mohammadi was named Volunteer of the Year.
