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 2019 are Emil Johansson (IBF Falun) and Anna Wijk (KAIS Mora IF). Johansson is the first defender being awarded and Wijk sets another record being awarded for the fourth time as the best female player in the world.
Best male players 2019
For the 15th consecutive year the world’s best male floorball player is announced. Emil Johansson, defender in IBF Falun and the Swedish national team, gets the 2019 award.
– It feels really great, it’s the biggest individual award you can win and it was the only thing I was missing so it feels really good, says Emil Johansson.
Why Johansson?
Emil Johansson has been one of Falun’s leading stars for several years and is a big reason for the team’s success. Since his arrival in Falun, he has grown into a leader both on and off the field, and he is getting better and better for each season that passes. On the team sheet Emil Johansson is most often listed as a defender, but the technical Johansson with his quick feet and excellent game sense has a tendency to move all over the court and can just as likely score a goal as defend his own goal. Even if he didn’t win any titles in 2019 he was often praised for his game, both offense and defense.
Facts: Emil Johansson
Born: August 14, 1992
Position: Defender
Original club: Ersboda SK
Current club: IBF Falun
Previous clubs: Ersboda SK (2003-2004 & 2005-2007), Böle BK (2004-2005), IBK Ersboda (2007-2008), RIG Umeå IBF (2008-2011), Umeå City IBK (2011-2013).
Internationals: 60. 20 goals, 39 assists, 59 points in total.
Merits: 1 WFC gold medal. 2 WFC silver medals. 4 gold, 2 silver & 1 bronze medals in Swedish Super League. Player of the year in Sweden 2018/19. Defender of the year in Sweden 2015/16, 2016/17 och 2018/19.
World’s best male floorball players 2019
1. Emil Johansson, Sweden & IBF Falun
2. Alexander Rudd, Sweden & Storvreta IBK
3. Joonas Pylsy, Finland & SV Wiler-Ersigen
4. Krister Savonen, Finland & SV Wiler-Ersigen
5. Tobias Gustafsson, Sweden & Storvreta IBK
6. Nico Salo, Finland & Classic
7. Alexander Galante Carlström, Sweden & IBF Falun
8. Eero Kosonen, Finland & SPV
9. Peter Kotilainen, Finland & Happee
10. Sami Johansson, Finland & 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
2019: Emil Johansson, Sweden
Best female player 2019
For the 13th consecutive year, the worlds best female floorball player is announced. Anna Wijk, centre forward in KAIS Mora IF and the Swedish national team, gets the 2019 award.
– It feels huge and really great considering that I have won it before but not in the latest seasons. It’s proof that I have done something good in the past year, says Anna Wijk.
Why Wijk?
The passing-genius Anna Wijk has had another amazing year. In 2019, she brought her club KAIS Mora to yet another national final and with the Swedish national team she took her sixth WFC-gold. In the WFC-final against Switzerland, she was the deciding factor when she found Johanna Hultgren with a beautiful pass in overtime, and at the same time she became the first player to win six consecutive World Championships. During the year that has passed, Anna Wijk has also erased several records and therefore written her name in the history books yet again. Most points of all time in both the SSL and WFC are just two of the records Wijk beat. Anna Wijk has a unique game sense and always produces a lot of points. She also has a unique ability to make players around her better both in the club and national team.
Facts: Anna Wijk
Born: June 20, 1991
Position: Centre forward
Original club: IBK Alba
Current club: KAIS Mora IF
Previous clubs: IBK Alba (2003-2006), Gävle GIK (2006-2007), RIG Umeå IBF (2007-2008), IKSU (2008-2010).
Internationals: 106. 54 goals, 142 assists, 196 points in total.
Merits: 6 WFC gold medals. 1 gold, 7 silver & 3 bronze medals in Swedish Super League. Player of the year in Sweden 2013/14, 2015/16 och 2016/17. Centre forward of the year in Sweden 2009/10, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19.
World’s best female floorball players 2019
1. Anna Wijk, Sweden & KAIS Mora IF
2. Veera Kauppi, Finland & IKSU
3. Emelie Wibron, Sweden & IKSU
4. Lara Heini, Switzerland & Pixbo Wallenstam IBK
5. Oona Kauppi, Finland & IKSU
6. Johanna Hultgren, Sweden & KAIS Mora IF
7. Ida Sundberg, Sweden & Pixbo Wallenstam IBK
8. Moa Tschöp, Sweden & Täby FC IBK
9. Flurina Marti, Switzerland & Piranha Chur
10. Denisa Ratajova, Czech Republic & Pixbo Wallenstam IBK
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
2019: Anna Wijk, Sweden
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 15th and 13th time. Winners are selected by Innebandymagazinet in cooperation with national team coaches and international media from the most influential floorball countries. Mika Kohonen has been awarded most (5) times.
