CRISTIANO RONALDO HAS BEEN NAMED PFA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

28 April 2008

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player of the Year for the second year in succession. The Manchester United midfielder has enjoyed another outstanding campaign having scored 38 goals in all competitions for the Premier League champions.

The 23-year-old beat off competition from Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and David James to land the prize.

Ronaldo said: "I feel very happy. 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."

Cristiano Ronaldo with his PFA trophy

Ronaldo, who joined United in a £12.24million move from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, feels he has improved considerably during his time at Old Trafford.

As well as scooping both PFA awards last year he came third in the FIFA World Player of the Year poll and he is looking forward to achieving even more success, individually and collectively, with United in future.

The Portuguese star added: "I am sure I am better player than four or five years ago. Than last year? I have improved a little bit better still.

"This is my ambition to learn more and play better and I think I am in the right place. I want to carry on and this for me is a good moment to stay at the club and play at the best level." Ronaldo did not attend the event in person but was shown on screen accepting his trophy from United manager Sir Alex Ferguson at the club's Carrington training ground. United are currently preparing for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on Tuesday.

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Arsenal midfielder Fabregas was named Young Player of the Year - an award which Ronaldo also won in 2007 - at a star-studded ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

Torres, Micah Richards, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young were the other nominees.

PFA TAEMS OF THE YEAR
The Barclays Premier League Team of the Year, as voted for by the professional footballers of England, is: David James (Portsmouth), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).

Former England and Blackpool full-back Jimmy Armfield, 72, still involved in the game as a broadcaster, received the Merit award for his services to the game. Armfield, also a former Leeds manager, overcame a battle with cancer last year.
Armfield said: "When you wait for honours you appreciate it even more. The thing is to be honoured by your own professionals, that's the way I look at it."

Among the guests was England manager Fabio Capello who, speaking publicly in English for what is believed to be the first time, proposed a toast to the PFA.

Surprisingly, Chelsea players who are only one night's work away from the Champions League final and two games to go to the Premier League on level points with the league rivals, aren’t being recognised in this PFA awards.

A lot of people believe Joe Cole, Drogba, Essien and Carvalho can make that list, also Petr Cech, probably the best keeper in the world and may be a little unlucky with injuries, as calf and hip problems have combined to keep him sidelined for around six weeks of the campaign.

Writing by: Mohamed Hussein
Kubadda.com