The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele
Alli, a highly impressive performer in
his first top-flight season, took the
Young Player of the Year award.
Manchester City’s Izzy Christiansen was
named Women’s Player of the Year
while Beth Mead, of Sunderland Ladies,
won the Women’s Young Player of the
Year award. Ryan Giggs, who won both
of the major men’s gongs during his
playing career, completed a rare hat-
trick with the PFA Merit Award.
Mahrez has had a stunning campaign
with the Foxes, scoring 17 goals and
providing 11 assists. The Algerian
international’s most recent contribution
came with the opening goal in the 4-0
win over Swansea City hours before the
awards event, which Leicester’s
contingent attended in London via
helicopter.
Mahrez said his Leicester team-mates
deserved to take the plaudits for his
success. “All the credit is for them,
seriously,” he said. “And my manager
and the staff. Without them I wouldn’t
receive this award and I wouldn’t score.
It’s the team spirit. I want to dedicate it
to them.
“I’m very grateful to receive this award,
it’s a pleasure. 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.”
After signing from the French second-
tier side Le Havre in January 2014
Mahrez made a steady rather than
spectacular start to life in England but
featured prominently in Leicester’s
escape from relegation last season and
began 2015-16 with two goals in the 4-2 victory against Sunderland . Neither
player nor club has looked back since,
with Leicester now five points from an
historic title and Mahrez having shone
throughout.
Ossie Ardiles, the former Tottenham
midfielder, collected Alli’s award on
behalf of the 20-year-old – who did not
attend the ceremony at Grosvenor
House Hotel due to the proximity of
Monday night’s home match against
West Bromwich Albion.
“Thank you Ossie, the Tottenham
legend, for receiving this award for me,”
Alli said in a video message. “I feel
honoured to win such a prestigious
award and thank you to my friends,
family and all the staff at Tottenham.”
Alli’s award came with some mild
embarrassment for Tottenham, who had
dedicated an article in Monday’s
matchday programme to his
achievement. The piece appeared to
have been leaked online earlier on
Sunday, which was hardly the ideal
scenario, given that news of the winners
is strictly embargoed.
Christiansen, the 24-year-old forward,
won her first senior England cap last
September, scoring on her debut against
Estonia. She has been in superb form
for her club and the same is true of the
prodigious striker Mead, who was the
top scorer in Women’s Super League
One last season with 12 goals from 14
games.
Giggs became the latest Manchester
United stalwart to be given the merit
award, following in the footsteps of Sir
Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby and Sir
Bobby Charlton. The honour is given for
“meritorious service to English football”
and Giggs, who was named player of the
year in 2009 and young player of the
year in 1992 and 1993, expressed his
delight at completing the clean sweep.
“I’m chuffed to have won all three
awards. The young player was a long
time ago and then the player award was
a big surprise,” Giggs said.
“This is the culmination of around 25
years since my debut, so it’s a credit to
myself, my team-mates, staff, family
and friends. 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.”
Now assistant manager to Louis van
Gaal at Old Trafford, Giggs said that
enjoyment was the key to a playing
career that brought up a club record 963
appearances and 64 caps for Wales.
“What Sir Alex always used to say was
enjoy it. It was the last thing he said
when you went out and played,” Giggs
said.
“Everything that comes with that
obviously – improve every day, practise,
listen, dedicate yourself – but most of all
enjoy your football. That went for
playing when I was 17 until when I was
40. It was a privilege to play at Old
Trafford and I tried to enjoy it.”
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