yuuteya
12-21-2005, 05:35 AM
Gamba striker Araujo named J.League MVP
Shintaro Kano / Daily Yomiuri Sportswriter
Araujo will pack a few more medals into his suitcase when he heads back to Brazil at the end of the year.
On Tuesday night, he was named the J.League's 2005 most valuable player for leading Gamba Osaka to the championship with a league leading 33 goals in 33 games.
The Brazilian was honored three times at the J.League Awards at Yokohama Arena, for the MVP and the golden boot--the fourth time in the last five years a foreigner has taken home the scoring title--and for being picked to the Best XI team.
"Honestly, I don't know what to say," Araujo said. "I am the one receiving this award, but my each and every one of my teammates deserve this, too.
"The past year has been a magical season for me. I want to use this as motivation to try to make the national team."
The 28-year-old Araujo, whose departure from Gamba after the Emperor's Cup has already been announced, is the sixth foreign player to win the MVP in the J.League's 13 seasons.
The MVP was chosen by a league selection committee from the Best XI, which was determined by a list of 30 nominees who were picked by the managers and players of the 18 first division teams.
Araujo's 33 goals have only been surpassed by Jubilo Iwata's Masashi Nakayama in 1998, when the former national team striker struck 36 times during a campaign in which he scored a hat trick in five consecutive matches.
Although Gamba won the league crown by a single point over four other teams, they conceded 58 goals--fourth worst in the league. It was, unquestionably, their attack keyed by Araujo that led them to the promised land.
"I'm very happy to have won the scoring title," said Araujo. "It pleases me to have met the expectations of my teammates and the fans.
"Over the course of the season, I was able to earn the trust of everyone around me. I never gave up at any point, and I think those were the things that led to my success this season."
Joining Araujo on the Best XI were Cerezo Osaka goalkeeper Motohiro Yoshida; defenders Marcus Tulio Tanaka of Urawa Reds, Ilian Stoyanov of JEF United Chiba and Yuji Nakazawa of Yokohama F Marinos; midfielders Fernandinho and Yasuhito Endo of Gamba, Mitsuo Ogasawara of Kashima Antlers, Tatsuya Furuhashi of Cerezo and Yuki Abe of JEF; and Sanfrecce Hiroshima forward Hisato Sato, the top Japanese scorer with 18 goals.
Akira Nishino, Araujo's coach at the Panasonic club, was named manager of the year in guiding Gamba to their first title. Nishino previously won the award in 2000, when he was with Kashiwa Reysol.
"I wish I could just enjoy this, but I don't think the other coaches here are ready to approve of me yet," said Nishino, in his fourth year at Osaka. "I think every team had its ups and downs this year in a single stage, and we Gamba faded badly toward the end.
"It means a lot to Gamba that we were able to come out on top in such a close race."
The Newcomer of the Year Award went to Jubilo's 20-year-old young gun Bobby Cullen, who led his team with 13 goals from 31 matches.
Kazuhiko Matsumura was named the best referee, and former referee Leslie Mottram was presented with a career achievement award along with former Verdy Kawasaki, Vissel Kobe and Kashima midfielder Bismarck.
Meanwhile, the J.League also announced on Tuesday that the 2006 J1 season will open March 4 before entering a break for the World Cup on May 7. The season resumes July 19, and ends Dec. 2.
The J2 season will run uninterrupted from March 4 to Dec. 2.
(Dec. 21, 2005)
Shintaro Kano / Daily Yomiuri Sportswriter
Araujo will pack a few more medals into his suitcase when he heads back to Brazil at the end of the year.
On Tuesday night, he was named the J.League's 2005 most valuable player for leading Gamba Osaka to the championship with a league leading 33 goals in 33 games.
The Brazilian was honored three times at the J.League Awards at Yokohama Arena, for the MVP and the golden boot--the fourth time in the last five years a foreigner has taken home the scoring title--and for being picked to the Best XI team.
"Honestly, I don't know what to say," Araujo said. "I am the one receiving this award, but my each and every one of my teammates deserve this, too.
"The past year has been a magical season for me. I want to use this as motivation to try to make the national team."
The 28-year-old Araujo, whose departure from Gamba after the Emperor's Cup has already been announced, is the sixth foreign player to win the MVP in the J.League's 13 seasons.
The MVP was chosen by a league selection committee from the Best XI, which was determined by a list of 30 nominees who were picked by the managers and players of the 18 first division teams.
Araujo's 33 goals have only been surpassed by Jubilo Iwata's Masashi Nakayama in 1998, when the former national team striker struck 36 times during a campaign in which he scored a hat trick in five consecutive matches.
Although Gamba won the league crown by a single point over four other teams, they conceded 58 goals--fourth worst in the league. It was, unquestionably, their attack keyed by Araujo that led them to the promised land.
"I'm very happy to have won the scoring title," said Araujo. "It pleases me to have met the expectations of my teammates and the fans.
"Over the course of the season, I was able to earn the trust of everyone around me. I never gave up at any point, and I think those were the things that led to my success this season."
Joining Araujo on the Best XI were Cerezo Osaka goalkeeper Motohiro Yoshida; defenders Marcus Tulio Tanaka of Urawa Reds, Ilian Stoyanov of JEF United Chiba and Yuji Nakazawa of Yokohama F Marinos; midfielders Fernandinho and Yasuhito Endo of Gamba, Mitsuo Ogasawara of Kashima Antlers, Tatsuya Furuhashi of Cerezo and Yuki Abe of JEF; and Sanfrecce Hiroshima forward Hisato Sato, the top Japanese scorer with 18 goals.
Akira Nishino, Araujo's coach at the Panasonic club, was named manager of the year in guiding Gamba to their first title. Nishino previously won the award in 2000, when he was with Kashiwa Reysol.
"I wish I could just enjoy this, but I don't think the other coaches here are ready to approve of me yet," said Nishino, in his fourth year at Osaka. "I think every team had its ups and downs this year in a single stage, and we Gamba faded badly toward the end.
"It means a lot to Gamba that we were able to come out on top in such a close race."
The Newcomer of the Year Award went to Jubilo's 20-year-old young gun Bobby Cullen, who led his team with 13 goals from 31 matches.
Kazuhiko Matsumura was named the best referee, and former referee Leslie Mottram was presented with a career achievement award along with former Verdy Kawasaki, Vissel Kobe and Kashima midfielder Bismarck.
Meanwhile, the J.League also announced on Tuesday that the 2006 J1 season will open March 4 before entering a break for the World Cup on May 7. The season resumes July 19, and ends Dec. 2.
The J2 season will run uninterrupted from March 4 to Dec. 2.
(Dec. 21, 2005)