The twenty-second winner of the "Golden Ball" - Alan Simonsen

The twenty-second Ballon d'Or winner - Alan Simonsen

Serious competition and triumph for the Danish striker in 1977

The "Golden Ball" for the best football player in Europe in 1977 was awarded to the Danish striker Alan Simonsen. The Borussia Mönchengladbach player had several good seasons with the German team, but his peak came in 1977, when success at club level helped him become the first Dane to win the most prestigious individual prize in football on the Old Continent.

Simonsen collects 74 points in the poll, ahead of only 3 Kevin Keegan, who in the first half of the calendar year is part of the European champion Liverpool, and in the summer moves to Hamburger. Third remains Michel Platini. Nancy's French attacking midfielder impressed again, but fell just short of picking up his first Ballon d'Or. 25 journalists from each country that is a member of the European football headquarters - UEFA - have the right to vote in the ranking. Eighteen of them place Simonsen in the top 5. 7 people think he deserves the award the most, 7 put him second, three third and one fourth. Curiously, more of the voters, 11, gave Keegan first place, but with only three second places, one fourth and two fifths, he collected fewer points than the winner.

Last year's winner Franz Beckenbauer is not at all among the competitors who received points, and the top 5 is completed by the Italian Roberto Bettega from Juventus, who has 39 points, as well as the three-time winner of the ranking Johan Cruyff, who has 23. Bulgarians in the ranking for " Ballon d'Or" in 1977 there is no.

Simonsen's strongest season was marked by a European final. Borussia Monchengladbach reached trophy contention in the European Cup, but lost 3-1 to Liverpool on May 25 at the Stadio Olimpico in the Italian capital of Rome. Simonsen scores for 1:1 in the 52nd minute. The goal will be remembered for the powerful strike of the not particularly strong striker. In the championship, Simonsen's team reached its third consecutive title. Borussia Mönchengladbach won the Bundesliga by a point ahead of Schalke 04 and Eintracht Braunschweig. Although not among the competition's top scorers, finishing with just 12 goals, the Dane scored some very important goals and is off to a strong start to next season.

Second-order Kevin Keegan is left disappointed as Liverpool owe a lot to him for their first FA Cup title. The Englishman scored 4 goals en route to the triumph, trailing only Franco Cucinotta and Gerd Müller, who are the top scorers with 5 each. Juve striker Roberto Battega also made many important appearances for the Bianconeri as they triumphed in the UEFA Cup, but the voters apparently did not consider this achievement to be enough.

Alan Simonsen was the player who caught everyone's eye in Europe in 1977. With his agility, powerful strike, memorable goals and surprising performances, thanks also to his teammates at Borussia Mönchengladbach, the Dane won the Ballon d'Or in fierce competition.