April 27, 2008 6:39 PM

SOURCE:
goal.com

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Ronaldo Named PFA Player Of The Year

Manchester United phenomenon Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Professional Footballers' Association's Player of the Year award for the second time in a row...

Player Of The Year

The 23-year old Portuguese international has been in outstanding form for United all season and has been a shoe-in for the accolade for some time.

He has scored an exceptional 38 goals in all competitions so far this season and his side are in a good position to win both the Premier League and the Champions League.

The former Sporting Lisbon starlet did not attend the event to receive his award, as he is busy preparing for his side's Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona.

In relatively close contention for the award were the Liverpool duo of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard - though they did not hit top form until late February, by which time this season's awards had already been voted for. The Arsenal duo of Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor also made the shortlist, with the outstanding David James also in the running.
Barcelona on Tuesday night, but was presented with the award by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I feel very happy. It is a great moment, it is an honour, a pleasure," said Ronaldo upon receiving the award.

"When you work all season to play good, to do something for the team, to do your contribution for the team and then at the end of the season the PFA give you this award, it is a great moment, it is an honour, a pleasure.

"It is a great motivation to carry on like that, to work more and get better.

"I feel very good but it is not just my award, my team-mates have helped me a lot this season. They give me good passes to score goals - and I score - but it is a good moment for me."

Ronaldo revealed that he voted for Adebayor, but joked that he believed he deerved to win.

"I voted for Adebayor because I think he has had a great season as well," he said.

"But you have many players who have had a good season - Torres, Fabregas, many players. But I think I deserve to win!"

Young Player Of The Year
The winger was also in contention for the Young Player of the Year award - a double he achieved last season - but this time around it was awarded to Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas. The other nominees were Torres, Manchester City's Micah Richards, and the Aston Villa duo Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young.

Upon receiving the award, Fabregas hailed his team-mates: "I'm very proud. It's a very prestigious trophy.

"Football is a collective game and you prefer to win trophies with team-mates but it's always nice to have this type of award.

"I dedicate it to my team-mates because without them I would not have won."

Meanwhile, Jimmy Armfield won the merit award for his services to game. The former England and Blackpool full-back now broadcasts for the BBC.

Team Of The Year

The PFA team of the year was also announced, and was dominated by Arsenal (4), Manchester United (3) and Liverpool (2). No Chelsea player could make it despite the fact that they are joint leaders in the Premier League.

Goalkeeper: David James (Portsmouth)

Defenders: Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Gael Clichy (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Strikers: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).