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Thierry Henry Player of the Year
Arsenal's French World Cup star Thierry Henry was named English football's Player of the Year by his fellow pros, while United States World Cup goalkeeper Brad
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 08:48 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
London:
Arsenal's French World Cup star Thierry Henry was named English football's Player of the Year by his fellow pros, while United States World Cup goalkeeper Brad Friedel was named on the Premier League all-star lineup. Henry, 25, gained the most votes ahead of five other players nominated by the Professional Footballers Association - 2002 winner Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes of Manchester United, Southampton striker James Beattie, Newcastle striker Alan Shearer and Chelsea forward Gianfranco Zola. "This means a lot to me because the other players have voted for me," said Henry, who placed second behind Van Nistelrooy in last season's awards. "They all know better than anyone else because they play against me and they must have noticed something, so I'm happy. It's never easy when you come from another country to get people to like you but, at the end of the day, the most important thing is football, no matter which country you are from. We are all trying to play the same and to do well on the pitch, so nationality doesn't really matter," acknowledged Henry. "There were some great names on the shortlist and some equally good ones who didn't make it," Henry said. "But that's because there are so many great players in the English League and that is why I am so happy to win this. It means a lot when the players vote for you". In a surprise result in the voting, Newcastle's England Under 21 midfielder Jermaine Jenas was named PFA Young Player of the Year, fighting off competition from Everton's 17-year-old rising star, Wayne Rooney. Friedel, who had a standout season for Blackburn Rovers, was named as the Premier League's all-star goalkeeper. (AP)Topics mentioned in this article
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