For the 19th time, Innebandymagazinet awards the world’s best floorball players together with national team coaches and international media. The award for 2023 goes to Emil Johansson (IBF Falun) and Veera Kauppi (Thorengruppen IBK).
Veera Kauppi up alongside Anna Wijk
Finland’s Veera Kauppi copies Swedish legend Anna Wijk by winning the award the most (4) times on the women’s side.
– This is the award that means the most to me, without a doubt, says Veera Kauppi and continues:
– It is hard to believe that I’m winning the title again. The significance of the award is even more personal this time. I’ve been unlucky with injuries. I decided that 2023 would be my year. It’s very special to be named the best floorball player in the world.
Why Kauppi? With technical skills, shooting power and smartness, Veera Kauppi dominates wherever she plays; in Finland, in Sweden and in international competitions. Her peaks are currently unmatched by any other player in the world. In 2023, she led her club team to the Swedish Championship gold and Champions Cup gold. She was also named the tournament’s most valuable player at the World Championships.
Facts: Veera Kauppi
Born: July 19, 1997
Club: Thorengruppen IBK
Original club: Koovee
Position: Forward
Grip: Right
Seasons in SSL: 6
Matches in SSL: 123
Points in SSL: 391 (217+174)
International matches: 85
National team points: 223 (134+89)
Swedish Championship gold: 4 times
World’s best female player year by year
2023: Veera Kauppi 🇫🇮
2022: Emelie Wibron 🇸🇪
2021: Veera Kauppi 🇫🇮
2020: Eliška Krupnová 🇨🇿
2019: Anna Wijk 🇸🇪
2018: Veera Kauppi 🇫🇮
2017: Veera Kauppi 🇫🇮
2016: Anna Wijk 🇸🇪
2015: Anna Wijk 🇸🇪
2014: Anna Wijk 🇸🇪
2013: Emelie Lindström 🇸🇪
2012: Emelie Lindström 🇸🇪
2011: Emelie Lindström 🇸🇪
2010: Hermine Dahlerus 🇸🇪
2009: Karolina Widar 🇸🇪
2008: Simone Berner 🇨🇭
2007: Karolina Widar 🇸🇪
Top 10: World’s best female players 2023
1. Veera Kauppi 🇫🇮
2. Maja Viström 🇸🇪
3. Wilma Johansson 🇸🇪
4. Emelie Wibron 🇸🇪
5. Lara Heini🇨🇭
6. Lisa Carlsson 🇸🇪
7. Anna Brucháčková 🇨🇿
8. Ooona Kauppi 🇫🇮
9. Ellen Rasmussen 🇸🇪
10. Eliška Krupnová 🇨🇿
Emil Johansson best Swede in history
Emil Johansson has now won the award three times (2019, 2022 and 2023), the most of any Swedish player. Finnish icon Mika Kohonen has won the award five times.
– Not many people have won the award multiple times. I have played good floorball at a high level all year. It’s a great honor to win. I have worked hard for this. I’m happy and proud because it’s a nice prize and shows that you have done something good, says Emil Johansson.
More than a million people play floorball every year, of which almost 400,000 have a competition license. Sweden is still number one in the world, but every international tournament is now completely open.
– The world’s top nations are getting sharper and sharper. The new young generation from the Czech Republic is very good, as they have shown, not least during 2023, says Johansson.
Why Johansson? Falun’s defender has maintained a consistently high level of play for many years. His versatility, understanding of the game and ability to anticipate situations before they arise make him unique. With his speed, strength and attitude, he rarely loses duels. In 2023, he led his club team to gold in the Champions Cup and the Swedish Cup.
Facts: Emil Johansson
Born: August 14, 1992
Club: IBF Falun
Original club: Ersboda SK
Position: Defender
Grip: Left
Seasons in SSL: 14
Matches in SSL: 321
Points in SSL: 519 (220+299)
International matches: 87
National team points: 89 (32+57)
Swedish Championship gold: 7 times
World Cup gold: 3 times
World’s best male player year by year
2023: Emil Johansson 🇸🇪
2022: Emil Johansson 🇸🇪
2021: Tobias Gustafsson 🇸🇪
2020: Kim Nilsson 🇸🇪
2019: Emil Johansson 🇸🇪
2018: Eero Kosonen 🇫🇮
2017: Alexander Galante Carlström 🇸🇪
2016: Alexander Galante Carlström 🇸🇪
2015: Rasmus Enström 🇸🇪
2014: Kim Nilsson 🇸🇪
2013: Rasmus Enström 🇸🇪
2012: Mika Kohonen 🇫🇮
2011: Mika Kohonen 🇫🇮
2010: Mika Kohonen 🇫🇮
2009: Mika Kohonen 🇫🇮
2008: Magnus Svensson 🇸🇪
2007: Anders Hellgård 🇸🇪
2006: Anders Hellgård 🇸🇪
2005: Mika Kohonen 🇫🇮
Top 10: World’s best male players 2023
1. Emil Johansson 🇸🇪
2. Justus Kainulainen 🇫🇮
3. Tobias Gustafsson 🇸🇪
4. Ondřej Němeček 🇨🇿
5. Albin Sjögren 🇸🇪
6. Marek Beneš 🇨🇿
7. Eemeli Salin 🇫🇮
8. Jon Hedlund 🇸🇪
9. Miko Kailiala 🇫🇮
10. Manuel Maurer🇨🇭
Facts about the award
The world’s best floorball player has been awarded since 2005, making this the 19th time in the series. The winners are selected by Innebandymagazinet in cooperation with national team coaches and international media from the most influential countries in floorball. Finnish Mika Kohonen has received the award the most (5) times.
