Hyundai Motor and FIFA Present Hyundai Best Young Player Award to Caitlin Foord
- Hyundai presents Best Young Player award for the first time at a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ - Hyundai‘s close partnership with FIFA to continue through the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ in Qatar Hyundai Motor Company, the exclusive automotive sponsor to FIFA’s Women World Cup, presents the Hyundai Best Young Player award to Caitlin Foord, the Australian women’s national football team player, for her outstanding performance during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™, which concludes on Sunday. Caitlin Foord’s brilliant skills and unwavering spirit helped her team advance to the quarter-finals.
“We are delighted to once again present the Best Young Player award at a World Cup, and reward Caitlin Foord for her outstanding abilities on the field of play. This tournament has truly conveyed feelings of dynamism, excitement and passion – attributes at the heart of the Hyundai brand,” said Mark Hall, Hyundai Motor Europe Marketing Director. “The FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™ is a fantastic showcase for the game of football that raises awareness for the women’s game while deepens the longstanding relationship between Hyundai Motor and FIFA.”
“We are delighted to team up with Hyundai to introduce the Hyundai Best Young Player award for the first time at a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ and equally delighted that Caitlin Foord is the award’s first recipient,” said Tatjana Haenni, FIFA’s Head of Women’s Competitions. “This award is another important tool that we can use to showcase role models like Caitlin Foord and in turn inspire more girls to play football.”
The Hyundai Best Young Player trophy depicts a globe, spotlighting host country Germany, which symbolizes the worldwide appeal of football. The globe sits atop a graceful spiral, suggesting the dynamic play of the award winner. Both elements are affixed to a base featuring the Hyundai H logo, symbolizing Hyundai’s support for the matches.
The steel trophy, standing 310 mm high and weighing 6.7 kg, was crafted by England’s Thomas Fattorini, a 184-year-old design company that has produced signature awards including the legendary Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup.
The Hyundai Best Young Player award is an official FIFA award recognizing the most outstanding FIFA World Cup™ performances by footballers less than 20 years old. The recipient is selected by the Technical Study Group, a FIFA-appointed group of top football coaches and analysts. Judges look for technical qualities such as skill and style but also other important factors, such as a sense of fair play and a genuine enthusiasm for the game.
German star Thomas Muller won the first Hyundai Best Young Player award for his performance during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ matches.
Hyundai is proud of its 12-year association with FIFA, and serves as the official automotive supplier to all FIFA-sanctioned events around the world. As the official FIFA partner, Hyundai has extended its sponsorship to the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil, the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ in Russia and the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ in Qatar.