Ronaldo secures PFA awards double
Ronaldo has had a season to remember so far
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the Player of the
Year and Young Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers' Association.
The 22-year-old winger is the first player to win both awards in the same
season since Andy Gray in 1977.
The Portuguese has recovered from the controversy of last year's World
Cup to help United battle for three trophies.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was second and Manchester United midfielder
Paul Scholes third in the senior award.
Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs, last year's winner Steven Gerrard
of Liverpool and 19-year-old Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas also made ths
shortlist.
Ronaldo was booed at the start of the season for his part in Wayne
Rooney's sending off in the quarter-final match between England and Portugal in
Germany.
But he has bounced back superbly and has so far scored 16 Premiership
goals this season to fire United to the top of the table.
The winger said it was a big honour to be singled out by his peers.
He said: "It is a special night. It is amazing and a big honour for me to
win trophies like this in the English Premier League. I am very proud.
I think he is the best player in the world and his season has been
incredible
Sir Alex Ferguson
"My colleagues have voted for me and that is fantastic because the
players know the qualities of players.
"I want to keep working hard and getting better because these trophies
have now given me more motivation.
"This great team has helped me because when the team wins it is easier
for us all to play with more confidence."
Fabregas was second and Tottenham's Aaron Lennon, 20, third in the voting
for the young player award.
Ronaldo's team-mate Wayne Rooney (21) was also shortlisted, as were
Reading striker Kevin Doyle, 23, and 18-year-old defender Micah Richards of
Manchester City.
Eight Manchester United players made it into the team of the year while
manager Sir Alex Ferguson was honoured with the PFA Special Merit Award.
Ferguson paid tribute to Ronaldo, who joined United from Sporting Lisbon
in a £12.2m deal in August 2003.
"At this moment in time, I think he is the best player in the world and
his season has been incredible," he said.
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PFA Premier League Team of the Year:
Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice
Evra (all Man Utd); Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo (all Man Utd)
and Steven Gerrard (Liverpool); Didier Drogba (Chelsea) and Dimitar Berbatov
(Tottenham)
PFA Championship Team of the Year:
Matt Murray (Wolves), Graham Alexander (Preston), Gareth Bale
(Southampton), Darren Moore (Derby), Curtis Davies (West Brom), Jason Koumas
(West Brom), Carlos Edwards (Sunderland), Dean Whitehead (Sunderland), Diomansy
Kamara (West Brom), Michael Chopra (Cardiff), Gary McSheffrey (Birmingham)
PFA League One Team of the Year:
Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe), Jon Otsemobor (Crewe), Matt Lockwood (Leyton
Orient), Terry Skiverton (Yeovil), Ian Breckin (Nottingham Forest), Wesley
Hoolahan (Blackpool), Richard Wellens (Oldham), Matt Jarvis (Gillingham), Chris
Shuker (Tranmere), Luke Varney (Crewe), Billy Sharp (Scunthorpe)
PFA League Two Team of the Year:
Clayton Ince (Walsall), Craig Pead (Walsall), Michael Nelson
(Hartlepool), Chris Westwood (Walsall), Ritchie Humphreys (Hartlepool), Lee
Frecklington (Lincoln), Dean Keates (Walsall), Andrew Monkhouse (Hartlepool),
Tommy Doherty (Wycombe - on loan from QPR), Izale McLeod (MK Dons), Jermaine
Easter (Wycombe)
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