Ali Saleh of Al Wasl was honored with the Golden Ball as the Best Emirati Player in the 2023-2024 UAE Pro League season during a prestigious event held at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi.
The 22-year-old played a pivotal role in Al Wasl's historic double win in the UAE Pro League and President's Cup last season. The promising Emirati winger, aiming for a future in the English Premier League, contributed seven goals and four assists, helping Al Wasl end a 17-year drought for the league and cup titles.
The Best Coach of the Year award was presented to Al Wasl's manager, Milos Milojevic, for leading the team to a remarkable double victory. Milojevic, who left Red Star Belgrade for Al Wasl last season, transformed the Dubai club's fortunes in his debut season.
Nicolas Gimenez, Al Wasl's Argentine winger, was recognized as the league's Best Foreign Player of the Year. Al Ain's Soufian Rahimi, a key player in the club's impressive Asian Champions League win, received the Fans' Player of the Year Award. Al Wasl's Khaled Al Senaani was awarded the Best Goalkeeper, and Ismaeil Matar of Al Wahda won a special award for the Fans' Goal of the Year.
The ceremony was graced by Abdulla Naser Al Jneibi, Chairman of the UAE Pro League, along with board members, sponsors, clubs, and prominent sports and media figures. Al Jneibi opened the event with a heartfelt speech, expressing his appreciation for the attendees and emphasizing the significance of the annual event.
"Today, we come together at the UAE Pro League awards ceremony for the 2023-2024 season, a season marked by extraordinary achievements and treasured moments in the history of UAE football," he stated. "This display of creativity would not have been achievable without the unwavering support and guidance from our leadership, which has been instrumental in overcoming challenges and propelling us towards our strategic objectives."
