SOCAR awards Portuguese footballer the Young Player of Tournament

Baku. 11 July. REPORT.AZ/ Portugal national team midfielder Renato Sanches has been named as Young Player of the Tournament at UEFA EURO 2016.

Report informs citing UEFA official website, Sanches presented the award, established by SOCAR.

He was the youngest participant in the European championships finals. Portuguese footballer played decisive match against France at his 18 years 327 days. Previous achievement belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo (EURO-2004, 19 years, 150 days). Anatoly Baidachny, forward of former USSR national team, ranked 3rd (EURO-1972, 19 years 261 days). So, Sanches became the youngest holder of the European champion title.

SOCAR award winner – open to all players born on or after 1 January 1994 – was chosen by the UEFA technical observers, led by UEFA chief technical officer Ioan Lupescu and including Sir Alex Ferguson and Alain Giresse.

Notably, Portugal beat France 1-0 in final and crowned champions of Euro 2016.