Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez named PFA Player of the Year, 1st African to win the award

Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez has won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award. Mahrez has scored 17 goals and made 11 assists in 34 league games to take Leicester to the cusp of the title. In his acceptance speech, he said;
"Without my team-mates I wouldn't get this award,
"And for my manager and the staff - without them I wouldn't receive this award and I wouldn't score. It's the team spirit, and I want to dedicate it to them.
"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."

Mahrez, 25, held off competition from Tottenham forward Harry Kane, Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, West Ham United midfielder Dimitri Payet and fellow Leicester men Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kante to win the award.
He was handed the prize at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday, hours after scoring in his side's 4-0 win over Swansea City as leaders Leicester moved to within five points of the title.

The award was voted for by the Algeria international's fellow professionals.
Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, 20, was named PFA Young Player of the Year, while Manchester City forward Izzy Christiansen won the Women's Player of the Year award.

Former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, the most decorated player in the English game, won the PFA Merit Award.
Giggs, 42, follows in the footsteps of former United greats Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby and Sir Bobby Charlton in picking up the prize.
Now assistant to manager Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, Giggs made a club record 963 appearances for the Red Devils and won 13 league titles, four FA Cups and two Champions League crowns during a glittering career.
Giggs, PFA Player of the Year in 2009 and two-time Young Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993, said:  

"When you win each award you look down the trophy and you see the players who have won it before and you realise what a great accolade it is"