Yassine Bono of Al Hilal wins best goalkeeper award
Yassine Bono, the goalkeeper for Al Hilal, won the Saudi Pro League 2023–24 Goalkeeper of the Season title following a stellar first campaign with the record champions.
Al Ahli’s Edouard Mendy and Bono were in the race for the award this year. After both goalkeepers held 15 clean sheets apiece, Edouard Mendy of Al Ahli was surpassed by Bono on goals conceded, who was recruited in the summer. Thirteen goals less than his opponent, the Moroccan let up 20 goals.
After joining Sevilla, a Spanish team he helped win the 2022–23 UEFA Europa League, Bono performed admirably for Al Hilal, making a total of 62 saves. He had the best save percentage of any goalie with 10 or more league appearances this season, at 75%.
More than any other player in the league, 33-year-old Yassine Bono has won the RSL Goalkeeper of the Month title three times (in October, November, and February). Bono was on the shortlist for the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper earlier this year.
The current Al Hilal goalkeeper, who was born in Montreal, Canada, made an impression for the Morocco national team, which made history by becoming the first African team to go to the FIFA World Cup semifinals in 2022 when they played in Qatar.
About Yassine Bono
Bono started his youth career in Morocco, playing for Wydad AC. Bono spent most of his playing years in Spain, playing in almost 150 La Liga games and more than 50 in the Segunda División. For the first time in Sevilla FC history, he took home the Zamora Trophy.
Bono, whose parents were Moroccan, was born in Canada and moved back to his own country when he was three years old. Since 2013, he has represented Morocco as a full international. He has competed for his country in two FIFA World Cups and four Africa Cup of Nations, having previously represented them at the 2012 Olympics with the under-23 squad.
Initial Career
He enjoyed playing with his feet, but because of his height, it was subsequently advised that he switch to goalkeeping, which he embraced as a challenge. The idol of the goalie is Edwin van der Sar. When a scout from OGC Nice saw his goalkeeping abilities at the age of 17, he signed with the team. However, because of administrative issues, he was unable to play for Nice, and he eventually returned to Wydad AC. He debuted in his senior career in 2011 at the club, following his promotion to the first squad the previous year.
