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Riyad Mahrez: Leicester City forward named PFA Player of the Year

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Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez has won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award.

Mahrez has scored 17 goals and made 11 assists in 34 league games to take Leicester to the cusp of the title.

The award was voted for by the Algeria international's fellow professionals.

Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, 20, was named PFA Young Player of the Year, while Manchester City forward Izzy Christiansen won the Women's Player of the Year award.

Sunderland striker Beth Mead, 20, was named Women's Young Player of the Year.

Mahrez, 25, held off competition from Tottenham forward Harry Kane, Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, West Ham United midfielder Dimitri Payet and fellow Leicester men Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kante to win the award.

Mahrez was handed the prize at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday, hours after scoring in his side's 4-0 win over Swansea City as leaders Leicester moved to within five points of the title.

"Without my team-mates I wouldn't get this award," Mahrez, who joined Leicester from French second-tier side Le Havre in January 2014, said.

"And for my manager 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.

"It's extra special because if the players vote for me it's because they've seen I've been great this year so I'm happy."

One year ago, Alli was getting ready to play at Rochdale for MK Dons having been loaned back to the League One club after signing for Tottenham for an initial £5m in February 2015.

This season he has scored 10 times in 32 top-flight games to help Spurs challenge Leicester for the title.

In addition, Alli has made six senior appearances for England, scoring in a 2-0 friendly win over France last November.

Alli was unable to collect the award in person as Tottenham host West Brom on Monday, but former Spurs player and manager Ossie Ardiles collected the prize on his behalf.

"Thank you Ossie, the Tottenham legend for receiving this award for me," Alli said in a video message screened at the awards.

"Sorry I can't be there tonight but we have a big game tomorrow."

Leicester and Tottenham have provided eight players between them for the Professional Footballers' Association Premier League Team of the Year.

Mahrez is one of a quartet of players from league leaders Leicester, while Alli is one of four men from Spurs.

Ozil, a PFA Player of the Year nominee, misses out.

Players from champions Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal dominate the Women's Super League 1 Team of the Year.

Burnley, battling for promotion to the Premier League, have four players in the Championship Team of the Year.

Goalkeeper Tom Heaton, defender Michael Keane, midfielder Joey Barton and striker Andre Gray represent the team that is currently top of the league on goal difference.

Leaders Wigan have four players in the League One Team of the Year, with Reece Wabara, Craig Morgan, Yanic Wildschut and Will Grigg included.

League Two champions Northampton have three inclusions in the division's Team of the Year.

Former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, the most decorated player in the English game, won the PFA Merit Award.

Giggs, 42, follows in the footsteps of former United greats Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby and Sir Bobby Charlton in picking up the prize.

Now assistant to manager Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, Giggs made a club record 963 appearances for the Red Devils and won 13 league titles, four FA Cups and two Champions League crowns during a glittering career.

Giggs, PFA Player of the Year in 2009 and two-time Young Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993, said: "When you win each award you look down the trophy and you see the players who have won it before and you realise what a great accolade it is.

"This is the same. I've been here on the nights when people have won it and it's legends of the game.

"I'm fortunate to win it and I'll enjoy it."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36124713
 
Richly deserved. A great season for a quality player with immense potential.

Mahrez, Vardy and Kante have formed Leicester's backbone during this epic season.

Incredible work by the defence as well.
 
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Throughly deserved be interested to see if lecister hold on to him.

personally i think any of Leicester's stars will be mad to leave even if they dont win the league now

Leicester are guaranteed the Champions League group stages (direct qualification and no pre qualifier drama) so I dont know why anyone wouldnt want to play in such a historic year for the club when they helped reach there.

Some people have been comparing it to Southampton exodus few years ago but it really doesnt compare as those players didnt qualify for champs league and just praise and goodwill isnt enough to make one stay and let go of a big club opportuntiy. But here they have solid things to look forward to and actually rub shoulders with the big boys of Europe

only Vardy wanting to leave is understandable as he is nearly 30 and may not get this chance of going to a big club again. Rest are fairly young and will get these opps again
 
personally i think any of Leicester's stars will be mad to leave even if they dont win the league now

Leicester are guaranteed the Champions League group stages (direct qualification and no pre qualifier drama) so I dont know why anyone wouldnt want to play in such a historic year for the club when they helped reach there.

Some people have been comparing it to Southampton exodus few years ago but it really doesnt compare as those players didnt qualify for champs league and just praise and goodwill isnt enough to make one stay and let go of a big club opportuntiy. But here they have solid things to look forward to and actually rub shoulders with the big boys of Europe

only Vardy wanting to leave is understandable as he is nearly 30 and may not get this chance of going to a big club again. Rest are fairly young and will get these opps again

The thing is though money talks unfortunately other clubs can pay money Leicester can't. I think it's mahrez and Kante that they are vulnerable to losing. Kante has already been giving the impression if a bigger club comes in he will be interested which is a shame, whilst I think if a club offers the money for mahrez he will be off as well. But they could stay loyal to the club who gave them a chance and a chance at champions league football.
 
Mahrez is a brilliant footballer.

Credit to the Leicester City scout who spotted him.

I guess some of Europe's big boys will now be sniffing around him in the hope he signs for them.
 
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