PFA's top dog

By Chris,
April 28 2009

Ryan Giggs has been awarded Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award. The Welshman has never before won the award – but has collected the gong this season ahead of four Old Trafford team-mates and Scouse supremo Steven Gerrard. It marks another terrific achievement for the league’s most decorated footballer.

35-year-old Giggs got the nod ahead of Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Cristiano Ronaldo and Edwin van der Sar and Gerrard.

It's the first time that the left-footed winger has won the award despite racking up a cabinet full of trophies and medals over the years.

Giggs has won a host of honours including ten league titles four F.A Cups, three League Cups and two European Cups - but before this year the PFA award has eluded him.

Giggs' fellow professionals voted him this year's winner - despite the fact that he has only started twelve games. That's testimony to the impact that the Cardiff-born star has had despite intense competition for first-team places.

Meanwhile, Ashley Young of Aston Villa won the young player award ahead of United duo Jonny Evans and Rafael Da Silva.

Six Red's were named in the PFA's Premier League team of the year. All five shortlisted reds for the big PFA prize were obviously included - alongside left-back Patrice Evra. Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Young, Nicolas Anelka and Fernando Torres completed the line-up.

Elsewhere, former United striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was included in the Championship XI for his goalscoring exploits at Wolves.

Congratulations to Giggs - a true United legend.