The Guardian’s inaugural Footballer of the Year: Cagliari’s Fabio Pisacane
The Italian defender is the first winner of the award for his remarkable determination to reach Serie A after suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome at the age of 14. It is a truly inspiring storyThe Guardian Footballer of the Year is an award given to a player who has done something truly remarkable, whether by overcoming adversity, helping others or setting a sporting example by acting with exceptional honesty. Fabio Pisacane is our inaugural winner. “It’s an illness that strikes one person in a million,” says Fabio Pisacane, breaking eye contact for a moment to glance down at the floor. “But it’s serious stuff once you have it. Even with treatment, it will take its own course. You have to touch...