MAHREZ NAMED PFA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

MAHREZ NAMED PFA PLAYER OF
THE YEAR
The Algeria international has scooped the
prestigious award after a phenomenal season
that has seen him score 17 times, with 11
assists, to help Leicester to the top of the
table
Riyad Mahrez has been named the PFA
Player of the Year for 2016 seeing off
competition from Leicester City team-mates
Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kante and
Tottenham's Harry Kane to scoop the prize.
The Algeria international has been
inspirational for Claudio Ranieri's side this
season with his 17th goal of the season on
Sunday helping them move eight points clear
at the top of the table after a 4-0 win over
Swansea City.





Mahrez has also contributed 11 assists for
the Foxes, who remain hot favourites to win
their first ever Premier League title with just
three games left to play.
The Algeria international's Leicester team-
mate Jamie Vardy came second in the vote
with Tottenham striker Harry Kane finishing
third.
"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," said Mahrez on
accepting the award.
"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 the effort for our
team-mates. That is the secret of our
success."

Mahrez is Leicester's first-ever winner of the
award and also makes history by becoming
the first African player to pick up the
accolade.
The 25-year-old Algeria international is also
the first winner not to play for Arsenal,
Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham or Manchester
United since Newcastle United's Alan Shearer
in 1997.
Elsewhere, Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli
was named Young Player of the Year, Jamie
Vardy received an award to recognise his
record 11-game Premier Leageue goalscoring
streak and Ryan Giggs received the PFA
Merit Award.