Ukraine, Jul 2: Andres Iniesta has been named best player of the European Championship on Monday after helping Spain become the first nation to successfully defend the continental crown.
The 28-year-old playmaker started all six of Spain's matches, including Sunday's 4-0 final victory over Italy at the Olympic Stadium in which he recorded an assist.
UEFA technical director Andy Roxbuirgh says “Iniesta deserved it. He symbolized the tournament—the creative, incisive runner, with and without the ball. We felt that he epitomized a lot of what we saw.”
Roxbuirgh says UEFA's panel also considered Spain midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso, and Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo, for the award.
