Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man since 1977 to win
both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year Award in the same
season when he was honoured at a gala dinner in London. Not since
Andy Gray scooped each of the coveted accolades 30 years ago has
one player dominated the voting of his fellow professionals in such
fashion. Ronaldo, 22, has been in awesome form for United, as the
Red Devils remain on course for a Barclays Premiership, FA Cup and
Champions League treble.
The achievement is all the more remarkable considering the somewhat
harsh criticism the Portuguese winger received following England's
demise at the World Cup. Ronaldo beat Chelsea striker Didier Drogba
to the award, with United's former England midfielder Paul Scholes
third.
Ryan Giggs and last year's winner, Steven Gerrard, also made the
shortlist, alongside 19-year-old Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
Ronaldo said it was a "big honour" to be singled out by his peers.
He said: "It is a special night. It is amazing and a big honour for
me to win trophies like this in the English Premier League. I am
very proud.
Fabregas finished runner-up in the young player category as well,
with 20-year-old Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon third. Ronaldo's
team-mate Wayne Rooney (21) was also shortlisted, as were Reading
striker Kevin Doyle, 23, and 18-year-old defender Micah Richards of
Manchester City.
It was Manchester United who took centre stage at the Grosvenor
House hotel this evening - with eight of their players making it
into the Premier League team of the year and manager Sir Alex
Ferguson being honoured with the PFA Special Merit Award.
Ronaldo said: "This shows what quality we have at Manchester
United. "To have eight players in the team of the year is great."
Ferguson paid tribute to his multi-talented young winger, who
joined United from Sporting Lisbon in a £12.2million deal during
August 2003. The United boss said: "When we saw him play in a
pre-season friendly for Sporting against us, at half-time I knew we
had to get him and I said to [then chief executive] Peter Kenyon
'we are not leaving the stadium until we get the boy'.
"At this moment in time, I think he is the best player in the world
and his season has been incredible." PFA Player and Young Player of
the Year 2007 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
PFA Premier League Team of the
Year 2007 - Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville,
Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra (all Man Utd); Ryan
Giggs, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo (all Man Utd) & Steven
Gerrard (Liverpool); Didier Drogba (Chelsea) & Dimitar Berbatov
(Tottenham)
Special Merit Award - Sir Alex Ferguson
