First trophy in the bag for Leicester as Riyad Mahrez is named England’s Player of the Year
Algerian is first African ever to win the PFA award
Leicester City’s Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez on Sunday became the first African player to be named English football’s Player of the Year, as voted for by his fellow professionals.
The 25-year-old French-born Algerian international, outstanding in Leicester’s incredible charge towards the Premier League title, received the trophy at a lavish awards ceremony in London.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli was named Young Player of the Year at the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) awards.
Paying tribute to his team-mates, Mahrez, who succeeds Chelsea’s Eden Hazard as the winner of the prize, told the ceremony: “All the credit is for them, seriously.
“And for my manager [Claudio Ranieri] and the staff. Without them I wouldn’t receive this award and I wouldn’t score. It’s the team spirit, and I want to dedicate it to them.
VIDEO: @LCFC's @Mahrez22 reacts to being named the Men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year! #PFAawards https://t.co/Cx07Pme1IH— PFA (@PFA) April 24, 2016