Australian and Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak was named International Player of the Year at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) awards in Manila on Sunday evening, following in the footsteps of previous winners Shinji Kagawa and Yuto Nagatomo.
The award, introduced in 2012, recognises AFC players who have excelled on the international stage and in Europe's top leagues.
Jedinak scored a goal for the Socceroos during their 3-2 defeat to Netherlands in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and captained them in all three of their matches.
The 30-year-old midfielder has been at the heart of some gritty performances by Crystal Palace in the English Premier League this season. He scored in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Swansea City, which took his tally to five goals in 12 games this season.
Jedinak's campaign has included a touch of the spectacular. On Nov. 23, he scored Crystal Palace's third goal in their 3-1 win against Liverpool -- a curling free-kick taken from 25 yards out.
Jedinak, who hails from Sydney and started his professional career in 2001 with Sydney United, played in every match of Crystal Palace's 2013-14 Premier League season, a rarity for an outfield player.
Jedinak was one of several Australian winners in Manila, as the nation prepares to host the AFC Asian Cup in January for the first time.
Western Sydney Wanderers, the A-League side who lifted the AFC Champions League this season, were voted Club of the Year and their manager Tony Popovic won Coach of the Year. Matildas' midfielder Katrina Gorry was named Women's Player of the Year.
Nassir Al Shamrani, striker of Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal whom Wanderers defeated in the AFC Champions League final, was named Player of the Year at the annual awards function, which coincided with the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Asian governing body.