The PFA Player of the Year awards were announced last night at the Grosvenor House Hotel, with Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez picking up the prize. Mahrez, who arrived at the hotel in a helicopter from the King Power Stadium after Leicester’s 4-0 win over Swansea City, pipped Dimitri Payet, Harry Kane, Mesut Ozil and club mates Jamie Vardy and N’Golo Kante to the award and becomes the first African to win it. Even Chelsea’s mercurial Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba, for all his exploits at the Bridge, never won the award during his stint there.
Spurs’ Dele Alli was named Young Player of the Year. He was however unable to attend because the Lilywhites have an upcoming fixture against West Bromwich Albion. Ossie Ardiles collected the award on his behalf
The Women’s PFA Player of the Year award was won by Man City’s Izzy Christiansen, while the Young Player of the Year (Women) went to Sunderland’s Beth Mead.