Riyad Mahrez adds to his PFA Player of the Year gong while Anthony Martial also wins at Facebook awards
Leicester and Tottenham stars dominate Team of the Year
LEICESTER star Riyad Mahrez has been crowned Player of the Year at the annual Facebook Football Awards.
The Algerian ace adds the accolade to his PFA Player of the Year title after leading the Foxes to Premier League glory this season, with boss Claudio Ranieri named Manager of the Year.
Teammate Jamie Vardy was voted into second place, with Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil taking third ahead of N’Golo Kante, West Ham’s Dimitri Payet and Tottenham’s Harry Kane.
Mahrez, who has helped himself to 17 goals and 10 assists in the campaign, was delighted with his latest trophy, saying: “It's something special, and something big as well, because it’s from all over the world, and I thank them, and thanks to all of my fans.
“I love all my fans. I am very happy.”
Manchester United whizz Anthony Martial was the other big winner, scooping the Young Player of the Year award ahead of Dele Alli, Hector Bellerin, Eric Dier, Everton’s Ross Barkley and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling.
Despite having a weighty £55million price-tag to his name, Martial has shined in his debut season at Old Trafford, firing home an impressive 15 goals in all appearances.
Martial said: “Thanks to all Facebook fans for supporting me as the young player of the year.
“I am happy to be playing in the Premier League and I hope that I will continue to score plenty more.”
Meanwhile, Leicester and Tottenham had three players apiece in the Team of the Year, with Mahrez, Vardy and Robert Huth all recognised for their title-winning heroics.
Kane, Alli and Toby Alderweireld also made it into the side, although there was no place for Martial.
Team of the Year (4-3-3): De Gea [Man United]; Bellerin [Arsenal], Smalling [Man United], Huth [Leicester], Alderweireld [Tottenham]; Mahrez [Leicester], Alli [Tottenham], Payet [West Ham]; Vardy [Leicester], Kane [Tottenham], Aguero [Man City]