Jean-Clair Todibo and Badredine Bouanani have been named Aiglon and Espoir of the season respectively by OGC Nice supporters, who voted on the club's website.

As the 2022/2023 season comes to a close with the visit of Lyon on Saturday at 9pm, the time has come for the individual awards to be handed out. As they do every year in May, the Gym's supporters had the opportunity to vote for the best player of the season at Nice, as well as the best young player.

In the main category, Todibo was voted to succeed last year's winner Delort. Receiving 35% of the votes, the central defender is coming off the back of a superb season that saw him named player of the month three times, in August, September and January. A consistent performer and a leader in the dressing room, the rock of Le Gym was one of the main architects of the good season enjoyed by Nice's backline, which is currently the second best defence in Ligue 1 ahead of the final round of matches.

Called up to the French national team for the first time as an Aiglon, appointed captain for the return match against Tiraspol... Todibo has had a season full of milestones. The number 25, who extended his contract with the Red and Black until 2027 this autumn, also reached the 100-match milestone with Nice in the 2-1 win over Rennes (M34), just over two years after his arrival.

'J-C' finished ahead of Gaëtan Laborde (22%), who has been invaluable and has enjoyed a fine end to his campaign (9 goals in 2023; Aiglon of March and April). Dante (14%), once again impressive for his consistency at the age of 39, completes the podium.

As for the Espoir of the Season award, it went to Badredine Bouanani (60%). Aged just 18, the former Lille man, who signed his first professional contract last summer and extended his contract this winter, impressed with his energy and technical ability. Brought into the professional squad by Didier Digard in January, the new Algerian international made 20 appearances for the club, providing 4 assists in Ligue 1 (tied with Khephren Thuram for the best total in the squad) and was also involved in a number of memorable moves, such as the dribble that led to Laborde's goal against Clermont (M32, 1-2) or the free-kick delivered to his strike partner against Rennes.
 

Bouanani is just ahead of Khephren Thuram, who received 30% of the votes. Already voted Young Player of the 2021/2022 season, the midfielder has gone from strength to strength, with 48 games played, including 44 starts (2 goals, 8 assists). Having worked under Lucien Favre and then Didier Digard at just 22 years of age, Le Gym's No19, who earned his first cap for France against the Netherlands in March, is also a member of the Ligue 1's team of the season. He was honoured by his peers at the UNFP awards. Antoine Mendy, who came through the youth ranks at Le Gym and turned professional this season, finished third with 9% of the vote, having played 14 games prior to Saturday's match.

THE AWARDS CEREMONY IN PICTURES

The two men received their trophies from Fabrice Bocquet, Florent Ghisolfi and Didier Digard at the OGC Nice partners' after-work event held at the club's headquarters on Tuesday 30 May.

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Hugo Rondet