Roberto Lopes buzzing with his Rovers player of the year award

We can talk about it being quite a year and have this article COVID-19 free you’ll be glad to know, as when we write about a memorable year it certainly has been on the pitch in a positive way for Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes. 

Over the weekend he picked up the Shamrock Rovers player of the year award – reflecting a season in which he won his first league title, was part of a team who conceded just seven league goals in their unbeaten 18-game league campaign and he scored five goals in the 20 competitive Rovers games he played in. 

Throw in an international call up with a trip to Rwanda as part of the qualification process for the African Cup of Nations with Cape Verde and testing himself against Zlatan Ibrahimovi? in the Europa League qualifiers and 2020 has been some season for the 28-year-old defender.

“It was very unexpected but I’m delighted to win it,” said Lopes about winning the supporters vote for the Rovers player of the year when he spoke with SRFC TV – see full interview here.

“Look at the quality of players we have in the team and it has been a great year of success, so to be named the player of the year I’m buzzing with it. It has been a brilliant season. 

“I’m in the game for the team awards and it is all about the group for me so winning the league was fantastic and it was great to share that with the lads. Getting the international call up was a great experience being involved with such high calibre players.” 

Lopes was named in the PFAI team of the year and was one of three shortlisted for the player of the year – he missed out on that award as that went to his teammate Jack Byrne. Lopes, Byrne, Lee Grace, Aaron McEneff and Alan Mannus were the five Rovers players named in the players’ team of the year.

“It is very nice when you are recognised by your peers in the game and they think ‘yeah, he has been really good’ but I’m here for the team awards so the big one I look back on is getting our hands on the league.” 

The defensive statistics were quite remarkable for Rovers this year. In the 18 game league campaign, the Hoops conceded just seven goals – the fewest ever in League of Ireland history.

They kept 13 clean sheets and in the final 11 league games of the season, they conceded only one goal. Last week there was no surprise to see Alan Mannus win the Soccer Writers of Ireland goalkeeper of the year award.

“Big Al has been one of best signings if not the best. He has settled the whole team down. He is a calm and intimidating presence. He is a smashing ‘keeper and smashing pro. The way he has developed at his age and the way he gets us playing from the back it give us confidence.”

Lopes has played a crucial part in Rovers superb defensive record but his goals have been invaluable too – as he proved a huge danger from set pieces. 

With Rovers trailing 2-1 to Dundalk in February, Lopes popped up with the equaliser on 71 minutes before Jack Byrne got the winner in front of over 7,500 fans in Tallaght – the last time supporters have watched a game in the stadium. Lopes got the winner nine minutes from time in the Brandywell as Rovers came from 1-0 down to win in August. 

In the Europa League later that month, it was the defenders’ flicked goal on 78 minutes that forced the game to extra-time before Rovers won the most remarkable penalty shootout (with Lopes scoring his side’s seventh spotkick). He scored against Waterford and his goal in the FAI Cup final brought the game into extratime.

“It is something I needed to add to my game particularly when you see the delivery that we have. We needed to be getting goals off that.” 

As well as winning the player of the year award, he picked up a prize for a healthy competition that the Rovers defenders have been running.

“I earned myself and few quid of Lee (Grace) and Joey (O’Brien)! The last two years I’ve taken that trophy as the top goalscoring defender.” 

Ireland under-21 winger Danny Grant completes Huddersfield move for an undisclosed fee https://t.co/mJS46OYVU0pic.twitter.com/OB2tb4p6jN

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) December 19, 2020