Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been given the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League Player of the Season award, following his stellar display in the competition with Olympique Marseille.
Aubameyang beat Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, who netted a hat-trick in the final, to claim the top individual prize.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored 10 goals and provided 3 assists in 13 Europa League appearances this campaign, as he contributed massively to the heights Olympique Marseille achieved this term.
The Gabonese fired on all cylinders in the second-tier continental European club competition, delineating his brilliance in many matches, including netting a hat-trick against Ajax to send Olympique Marseille into the last 8 of the tournament.
Why Was Pierre-Emerick Handed The UEFA Europa League Player of the Season Award?
UEFA indicated that Aubameyang was found worthy of the award by the Technical Observer Panel due to his outstanding display in the UEFA Europa League.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s brilliance also saw him usurp Radamel Falcao to become the competition’s all-time top scorer with 34 goals.
Falcao, who currently plays for Spanish side Rayo Vallecano has netted 30 goals in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the 34-year-old has had to get his career back on track in France, following turbulent stints at Barcelona and Chelsea.
Aubameyang was also recently named the best African player in Ligue 1, with the attacker receiving the Marc Vivien Foe award.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has made 51 appearances this campaign, scoring 30 goals and providing 11 assists across all competitions.
The Gabonese has played for several top clubs in his career, including; AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona.
He became the first Gabonese to win the African Footballer of the Year award in 2012, and the second European-born player to be handed the award.
Aubameyang has had a relatively successful career, winning several trophies, including; 1 La Liga title, 1 FA Cup, and 1 DFB-Pokal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 349 goals and provided 104 assist in 692 club career appearances across all competitions.
Internationally, Aubameyang has netted 30 goals and provided 10 assists in 70 appearances for Gabon.
Aubameyang And Olympique Marseille
Moreover, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was able to power Olympique Marseille into the semi-final of the UEFA Europa League, however, they were bundled out of the competition by eventual winners Atalanta 4-1 on aggregate.
Jean-Louis Gasset’s side ended the Ligue 1 season in 8th position, failing to qualify for any European competition for next season.
Olympique Marseille will hope to better their fortunes in the coming campaign, with the team having some well-known names, including; Chancel Mbemba, Ismaila Sarr, and Pau Lopez.
They are the only French side to ever win the UEFA Champions League, winning it in the 1992/93 season.
Marseille have also won the Ligue 1 on 10 different occasions, with the team last winning it in the 2009/10 season.
Jean-Louis Gasset’s side will be hoping to get their hands on the league crown next campaign, and they definitely know that they will battle through intense competition from Lille, Olympique Lyon, Nice, Monaco, and current holders Paris Saint Germain.
