M’Vila, “Revelation of the year”

Each year, French magazine France Football distributes its awards to France’s finest players.

For his performances in 2010, Stade Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila was voted the “French revelation of the year”. A fair reward for a player who exploded to the limelight, especially through his performances with the French national team.

Despite Stade Rennes’ status as a top-level academy, the award had never been given to a young player trained at the club and still playing for the Rouge et Noir. However, Yohann Gourcuff had received it in 2008 when he played for Bordeaux, and former Rennes player Didier Christophe also won it in 1979.

M’vila was also included in the vote for the Best French player in 2010 award. Second player with the most nominations among the jury members (35 former winners and Denis Chaumier, the redaction’s director), M’Vila was eventually seventh in the final standing, behind Nasri, Malouda, Lloris, Gameiro, Valbuena and Pedretti.

Lilian Thuram was the jury member giving him the most credit, with a second place in his “Top 5”. Philippe Gondet, Marius Trésor, Alain Roche, Thierry Henry and Denis Chaumier placed him in third position.

Also good to note that Yoann Gourcuff is in twelfth position. A voter himself (as a former winner in 2009), the Lyon midfielder had the funny idea to name Sylvain Marveaux in second position of his vote. The players know each other since they met at the pre-Academy centre of Ploufragan. Marveaux received his only vote from his former team-mate.

Finally, interesting to note that Frédéric Antonetti has been voted eighth in the French Coach of the year award. A trophy eventually won by Didier Deschamps.