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Brazilian national team and AC Milan attacking midfielder Kaka was named the best player of the year 2004 at the annual Italian football "Oscars" ceremony held on Monday.
In the voting organized by the Italian players' association, all footballers competing in the Serie A championship expressed their opinion, and representatives of the national champion Milan received five out of nine awards.
Brazil's Kaka, who also received the best foreign player prize, surpassed Francesco Totti in the best player voting, who was named the best Italian player. Gianluigi Buffon was once again named the best goalkeeper, beating Dida and Angelo Peruzzi, while Paolo Maldini was chosen as the best defender, receiving more votes than his teammates Jaap Stam and Alessandro Nesta.
In the best coach category, Carlo Ancelotti emerged victorious, Alberto Gilardino was named the best young player, and as expected, one of the best referees in the world, Pierluigi Collina, received the best referee award. The goal of the year award went to a goal scored by Andriy Shevchenko against Parma last season.
