Awards from Italy for Kenan Yıldız, Servet Yardımcı, and Jose Mourinho

The International Mediterranean Excellence Awards, held in Rome, the capital of Italy, were hosted by the Italian Ministry of Culture and took place under the auspices of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee), USSI (Italian Sports Press Association), and AIPS Europe (International Sports Press Association Europe).

The event was attended by ambassadors from Mediterranean countries, diplomatic representatives, international institutions, and prominent figures from the worlds of culture and sports. Juventus and Turkish National Team star Kenan Yıldız, UEFA Executive Committee member and Chairman of the UEFA National Associations Committee Servet Yardımcı, and Galatasaray Women's Football Team player Valentina Giacinti were deemed worthy of the award due to their outstanding achievements in sports and their contributions to Mediterranean values.

KENAN YILDIZ: MY DREAM IS TO REPRESENT TURKEY IN THE BEST WAY AT THE WORLD CUP

Kenan Yıldız, who could not attend the ceremony due to his busy match schedule, said the following in a video message broadcast at the event:

"I would like to thank everyone who deemed me worthy of this award. This is truly a great honor for me. I am sorry that I could not receive my award in person and be among you. As you know, we have an important match against Real Madrid in the Champions League in two days. Playing for Juventus and wearing the number 10 jersey, following in the footsteps of the legendary Alessandro Del Piero, is a great responsibility. I am doing my best to represent this jersey in the best way possible and to always perform at the highest level. This award is not just a result of individual success, but of the struggle we put up as a team. When I step onto the pitch wearing the Turkish National Team jersey, I feel the responsibility of being an example for the youth of the Mediterranean. My dream is to represent Turkey in the best way possible at next year's World Cup."

COPPOLA: THE YOUNG AMBASSADOR OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

Gianfranco Coppola, president of the ceremony's organizing jury, shared his thoughts on Kenan Yıldız, stating, "Kenan Yıldız is a role model for Mediterranean youth not only with his talent but also with his character. His perseverance, discipline, and humility reflect the universal values of sports in the most beautiful way."

THE UNIFYING POWER OF FOOTBALL REWARDED

Chairman of the UEFA National Associations Committee and former UEFA Executive Committee member Servet Yardımcı became the recipient of the Mediterranean Excellence Award. In his speech at the award ceremony, Yardımcı emphasized that football is not just a game, but a universal language that combines respect, discipline, and teamwork. Yardımcı said, "This award is not just a personal achievement; it is an appreciation of our journey to serve football and support clubs, players, referees, and fans."

Stating that during his tenure as President of the Turkish Football Federation and as a member of the UEFA Executive Committee, he aimed to build strong ties between Mediterranean countries, bring federations together, and highlight the unifying power of football, Yardımcı drew attention to the role sports play in spreading messages of peace, friendship, and equality.

The organizers stated that the Mediterranean Excellence Award is a platform that strengthens dialogue between peoples through sports and culture, emphasizing that their decision to award Yardımcı was an appreciation of these efforts.

MOURINHO'S SPECIAL BOND WITH ROME REWARDED

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho received the International "Mediterranean Excellence Award" held in Rome. The award, known as the "Oscar of the Mediterranean," was presented as part of the ceremony organized by the Mediterranean Journalists Association. The award highlights Mourinho's career, his sporting achievements, and his special bond with the city of Rome, where he worked between 2021 and 2024. The Portuguese manager could not be present at the ceremony due to his busy schedule with his new club, so he sent his thank-you message via video. Mourinho said, "I don't think I deserve this award, but receiving it is always a great pride. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the 'Mediterranean Excellence' award. Maybe I don't deserve it, but this magnificent two-and-a-half-year bond I formed with Rome and the Roma fans will always remain a source of great pride throughout my life and career. Thank you very much."

The award presented at the ceremony also honors Mourinho's extraordinary career, in which he has won 26 international trophies, and the deep impact he has left on Italian football. Having won 4 championships with Inter, Mourinho achieved Inter's historic "Treble" in 2010. Later, he led the club back to the top of the European stage by winning the UEFA Conference League with Roma in 2022, establishing a unique bond with the city and the fans.