Each year Innebandymagazinet along with representatives from international floorball media and national team coaches announce the world’s best floorball players. The awarded players for 2018 are Eero Kosonen (SPV) and Veera Kauppi (IKSU). Kosonen is the first goalkeeper to win the award. This is also the first time that both players represent the Finnish national team.
Best male player 2018
For the 14th consecutive year the world’s best male floorball player is announced. Eero Kosonen, goalkeeper in SPV and the Finnish national team, gets the 2018 award.
– It feels very good to receive this award. Especially as a goalkeeper, since no goalkeeper previously has received this award, says Eero Kosonen.
Why Kosonen?
The world’s best goalkeeper for the last couple of years also deserves to call himself the worlds best floorball player after an amazing year which culminated in his outstanding performance during the World Floorball Championships in Prague, where Finland defended the gold from the previous WFC. Eero Kosonen was the difference for Finland during the final against Sweden where he put up one amazing save after another. The combination of always playing at a high level and also being the best when it matters the most makes him the number one in the world.
Facts: Eero Kosonen
Born: September 12, 1986.
Position: Goalkeeper.
Original club: NST, Lappeenranta.
Current club: SPV, Seinäjoki.
Previous clubs: NST (2005-2008), Happee (2008-2015), Växjö (2015-2018).
Merits: 2 WFC gold medals. 2 WFC silver medals. 1 gold and 1 silver in Salibandyliiga. 1 silver in Swedish Super League. Goalkeeper of the year in SSL 2016/17. Rookie of the year in SSL 2015/16. Player of the year in Finland 2015 and 2018.
Top 10 world’s best male floorball players 2018
- Eero Kosonen, Finland & SPV
- Krister Savonen, Finland & SC Classic
- Emil Johansson, Sweden & IBF Falun
- Peter Kotilainen, Finland & Happee
- Rasmus Enström, Sweden & IBF Falun
- Nico Salo, Finland & SC Classic
- Robin Nilsberth, Sweden & Storvreta IBK
- Alexander Galante Carlström, Sweden & IBF Falun
- Pascal Meier, Switzerland & Grasshopper Club Zürich
- Eemeli Salin, Finland & SC Classic
World’s best male players year by year
- 2005: Mika Kohonen, Finland
- 2006: Anders Hellgård, Sweden
- 2007: Anders Hellgård, Sweden
- 2008: Magnus Svensson, Sweden
- 2009: Mika Kohonen, Finland
- 2010: Mika Kohonen, Finland
- 2011: Mika Kohonen, Finland
- 2012: Mika Kohonen, Finland
- 2013: Rasmus Enström, Sweden
- 2014: Kim Nilsson, Sweden
- 2015: Rasmus Enström, Sweden
- 2016: Alexander Galante Carlström, Sweden
- 2017: Alexander Galante Carlström, Sweden
- 2018: Eero Kosonen, Finland
Best female player 2018
For the 12th consecutive year, the world’s best female floorball player is announced. Veera Kauppi, forward in IKSU and in the Finnish national team, gets the 2018 award.
– It’s hard to describe my feelings because it feels unbelievable to be in this situation again. There is so many great players in women’s floorball at the moment so getting selected shows that I have done a good job during the last years which feels nice. This is a great thing of course for me but I hope also for women’s floorball in Finland, says Veera Kauppi.
Why Kauppi?
There was never any doubt. Despite her young age Veera has taken over the throne as the world’s best floorball player and will possibly stay there for many years to come. 2018 was the year when Veera took the step and transferred to the Swedish Super League (SSL) and the Swedish champions IKSU. There she instantly made a big mark and is a contender, despite this being her rookie season, for both the goal record and also the record for most points scored. As a player she already masters every step of the game and always plays at a very high level, and she is also at her best when it matters the most.
Facts: Veera Kauppi
Born: July 19, 1997
Position: Forward
Original club: Koovee
Current club: IKSU
Merits: 2 WFC silver 2015,2017. 2 U19 WFC silver 2014/2016. 1 Champions Cup gold 2019
Internationals: 41. 56 goals, 32 assists, 88 points in total
World’s top 10 best female floorball players 2018
- Veera Kauppi, Finland & IKSU
- Emelie Wibron, Sweden & IKSU
- Moa Tschöp, Sweden & Täby FC IBK
- Anna Wijk, Sweden & KAIS Mora IF
- Amanda Delgado Johansson, Sweden & IKSU
- Sofia Joelsson, Sweden & IKSU
- My Kippilä, Finland & KAIS Mora IF
- Cornelia Fjellstedt, Sweden & IKSU
- Corin Rüttimann, Switzerland & Piranha Chur
- Sara Steen, Sweden & Endre IF
World’s best female floorball players year by year
- 2007: Karolina Widar, Sweden
- 2008: Simone Berner, Switzerland
- 2009: Karolina Widar, Sweden
- 2010: Hermine Dahlerus, Sweden
- 2011: Emelie Lindström, Sweden
- 2012: Emelie Lindström, Sweden
- 2013: Emelie Lindström, Sweden
- 2014: Anna Wijk, Sweden
- 2015: Anna Wijk, Sweden
- 2016: Anna Wijk, Sweden
- 2017: Veera Kauppi, Finland
- 2018: Veera Kauppi, Finland
Facts about the award
World’s best floorball players have been awarded since year 2005 on the men’s side and 2007 on the women’s side, making this the 14th and 12th time. The winners are selected by Innebandymagazinet in cooperation with national team coaches and international media from the most influential floorball countries. Mika Kohonen is the player, who has been awarded most (5) times.
