Vastly talented Algerian player wins UK Professional Soccer Player Of The YearAward winner
PFA Player of the Year - Riyad Mahrez (Leicester)
Jamie Vardy and fiance Rebekah Nicholson arrive in London for the awards ceremony
Riyad Mahrez wins PFA Player of the Year award after inspiring Leicester City’s stunning campaign that has seen them on the verge of winning the premiership title
First for a Leicester player
First African player to win award as Leicester go 1 and 2
Team mate Jimmy Vardy, runner up
Photo: REX FEATURES
Midfielder Mahrez has played a huge role in Leicester’s title push
The Algerian netted the opening goal in the Foxes’ 4-0 victory over Swansea earlier on Sunday to send his side eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
And Mahrez then beat teammate Jamie Vardy to the individual accolade.
Spurs hitman Harry Kane came third with Mahrez’ team-mate N’Golo Kante, West Ham playmaker Dimitri Payet and Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil also in the running.
He dedicated the award to his father, before adding: “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.
“Without my team-mates I wouldn’t get this award.
“We are like brothers, it’s everywhere on the pitch. That’s our strength.
“If sometimes we are not good, we know we are going to run and make effort for our team-mates. That is the secret of our success.”
He is the first African and the first Leicester player to win the award since its inception in 1974.
Mahrez was the odds-on favourite to claim the gong after a season in which he has already directly contributed to 27 goals.
His 17 goals and 10 assists have fired Claudio Ranieri’s side to the brink of the Premier League title.
Jamie Vardy: Leicester leading scorer and runner up in the PFA award
Riyad Mahrez 2015/16 Premier League record
Appearances
Appearances 34
Goals
Goals 17
Assists
Assists 10
Accurate as of Sunday 24 April 2016. Mahrez’s goals have been worth a phenomenal 20 points to Leicester this season, with the vast majority of the 25-year-old’s strikes coming at key times in matches.Only two of his goals this season have been inconsequential to the result of the match.Leicester need just five points from their remaining three top flight games to seal the title.
Photo: Matt McNulty/JMP/REX/Shutterstock
Mahrez celebrates after scoring the first goal against Swansea
PFA awards banquet
PFA Young Women’s Player of the Year – Beth Mead (Sunderland)
Full list of winners
- PFA Player of the Year – Riyad Mahrez (Leicester)
- PFA Young Player of the Year – Dele Alli (Tottenham)
- PFA Women’s Player of the Year – Izzy Christiansen (Manchester City)
- PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year – Beth Mead (Sunderland)
- PFA Merit Award – Ryan Giggs
PFA Awards
PFA Player of the Year – Riyad Mahrez (Leicester)
Young Player of the Year – Dele Alli (Totenham)
PFA Player of the Year Runner up – Jaime Vardy (Leicester)
Jamie Vardy and fiance Rebekah Nicholson arrive in London for the awards ceremony
PFA Women’s Player of the Year – Izzy Christiansen, Manchester City
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