The Bulgarelli Number 8 Award is an annual association football award given by the Associazione Bulgarelli and Italian Footballers' Association, with the support of FIFPRO, to the best midfielder of the previous calendar year. The award is named in honor of Giacomo Bulgarelli, considered one of Italy's greatest midfielders; the number 8, which Bulgarelli wore throughout his career, is associated with a midfield player in the traditional football numbering system.
History and regulations The award originated from an idea by Italian journalist Luigi Colombo. The award is given by a jury. In the first edition, the jury was chaired by Fabio Capello and composed of former football players and managers Sandro Mazzola, Gianni Rivera, Sergio Campana, Damiano Tommasi, Luis Suárez, Cesare Prandelli, Giovanni Trapattoni, José Altafini, Giovanni Lodetti, Francesco Janich, Romano Fogli, Ezio Pascutti, Marino Perani, Leonardo Grosso as well as Colombo himself.
The award was temporarily interrupted after the 2013 edition due to a lack of financial sponsors. The award was restored in 2016.
Winners SeasonMenWomenRef.WinnerClubWinnerClub Xavi – Andrea Pirlo Yaya Touré Paul Pogba Andrés Iniesta Daniele De Rossi Nicolò Barella Marta Carissimi Manuel Locatelli Valentina Cernoia Sandro Tonali Manuela Giugliano Davide Frattesi Alice Parisi Lewis Ferguson Giada Greggi
Other awards Best Women's Serie A Coach SeasonWinnerClubRef. Rita Guarino Elisabetta Bavagnoli Gianpiero Piovani Alessandro Spugna Sebastián De La Fuente
Best Serie A Coach SeasonWinnerClubRef. Roberto Mancini Stefano Pioli Luciano Spalletti Simone Inzaghi
Best Young Player SeasonWinnerClubRef. Giacomo Raspadori
Best Serie A Referee SeasonWinnerRef. Daniele Orsato Marco Guida
Lifetime Achievement YearWinnerRef. José Altafini Gianluigi Buffon
References