Joel Veltman voted Brighton Sexiest Player of the Season 2023-24
The wait is over. At the fourth attempt, Joel Veltman has finally been voted as WAB Brighton Sexiest Player of the Season, winning the award for the 2023-24 campaign.
Veltman has long been a strong candidate in this particular category. Most pundits expected him to win it in 2021-22, when he combined his ravishing good looks by saving a seagull stuck in the chimney of his Hove home a few days before voting opened.
Here was a suave, sophisticated Dutchman who possesses a great love of animals and showcased it to the world by live streaming his rescue carried out with nothing but a set of oven gloves. What was not to like?
Veltman finished runner up to Levi Colwill in 2022-23. At the time, it looked like his last opportunity to win the award. No announcement on a new contract had been forthcoming amid rumours he was considering a move to Spain or back home to the Netherlands.
We wrote at the time: “With two-time Robert Sanchez almost certainly not going to be a Brighton player in 2023-24 and Colwill’s return to the Amex still up in the air, Joel Veltman could find himself with a clear run at finally winning this award next season.”
“That of course depends on Veltman himself remaining a Brighton player. There has still been no confirmation yet that Veltman has signed a new contract extension, or that the Albion have activated their option for an extra year.”
“Come on Joel, give us one more year so you can take the Sexiest Player of the Season crown that has been so close to yours.”
And now he has. Nobody deserves it more than a man whom it is easy to imagine taking a stroll alongside a tulip-lined canal with before enjoying a pint of Heineken and a nice piece of green cake.
Second place behind Veltman went to newcomer Igor Julio. The Brazilian defender had his detractors during his first campaign at the Albion, although the question marks over his ability seemed a little harsh.
Complaints only seemed to arise when the club needed to justify getting rid of Roberto De Zerbi and therefore used the recruitment argument.
Mahmoud Dahoud and Ansu Fati were fair enough examples of signings De Zerbi pushed for who were not great. Igor though did a decent job as a back up centre back with a bit of versatility.
Anyway, the whole point in WAB Sexiest Player of the Season is to ignore footballing ability. So let us instead talk about how Igor looks like he has been chiselled out of granite. That has proven enough to sweep him to second spot.
Third place went to another man who, like Veltman before 2023-24, has proven a serial bridesmaid but never the bride as Sexiest Player of the Season.
Solly March has been nominated in this category every year for the past half-decade. He is still yet to emerge victorious, although this will go down as one of his better efforts.
March missed most of the campaign having suffered an ACL injury away at Manchester City in late October. Hopefully he will be back on the pitch in the not-too-distant future and challenging Veltman and Igor for the honours again in 2024-25.
WeAreBrighton.com Sexiest Player of the Season 2022-23 – The Results
- Joel Veltman – 40.04%
- Igor Julio – 23.80%
- Solly March – 11.47%
- Kaoru Mitoma – 10.38%
- Mahmoud Dahoud – 9.30%
- Jason Steele – 4.97%
Previous Winners: Levi Colwill (2023), Robert Sanchez (2022, 2021), Maty Ryan (2020, 2018), Bruno (2019), Shane Duffy (2017), Inigo Calderon (2016, 2015), Andrea Orlandi (2014, 2013), Vicente (2012)
