Dias named UEFA Champions League Defender of the Season

Ruben Dias has been named as the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League Defender of the Season.

The 24-year-old City centre back was awarded the prestigious prize at today’s draw ceremony for the 2021/22 Champions League group stages.

Dias saw off competition from Chelsea defensive duo Cesar Azpilicueta and Antonio Rudiger in winning the award.

Having joined City from Benfica in September 2020, Dias subsequently proved one of the key pillars of a rock-solid defence which kept eight clean sheets and conceded just five goals during last season’s European campaign.

That superb defensive record was one of the key factors in our route to a first-ever Champions League final appearance with Dias a towering, commanding presence at the heart of our backline.

Armed with strength, maturity, exceptional reading of the game and a superb turn of speed when needed, Dias also brought further leadership qualities to the City squad.

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“I would like to say I am very happy to receive the award. It means a lot to me and I would like to say thank you to everyone who took part in it,” said Dias.

Dias’s latest award follows in the wake of a number of similar prestigious individual honours which he won earlier this year.

Ruben was named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, the Premier League Player of the Year and the Etihad Player of the Season to cap off what was a magnificent debut season at the Club.