Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez named PFA Player of the Year(PHOTOS)

Riyad Mahrez named PFA Player of the Year (PA)

Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez was named English player of the year by the Professional Footballers' Association on Sunday.The 25-year-old Algerian international, the first Leicester player and first African to win the award, has scored 17 goals and made 11 assists in 34 league games to help Leicester move to the brink of their first English top-flight title.Mahrez finished ahead of fellow Leicester players Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kante, Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and West Ham United's Dimitri Payet.

The Algerian praised the contribution of his team mates and manager Claudio Ranieri after being voted the best player in England by his fellow professionals."All the credit is for them, seriously," Mahrez, who joined Leicester from French second-tier side Le Havre in January 2014, said.
"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.
"Without my team mates I wouldn't get this award."
Mahrez also spoke of his pride at being the first African player to receive the award won last year by Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard. "It's an honour to be the first African -- not the best but the first," Mahrez added.
Spurs midfielder Dele Alli, 20, was named PFA Young Player of the Year, with his team still chasing the leaders in a bid to win their first league title since 1961.

Riyad Mahrez with Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri and PFA chairman Ritchie Humphreys (EMPICS Sport)

Jamie Vardy presented with a commemorative plate in recognition of his consecutive goalscoring record earlier this season EMPICS Sport 

Jamie Vardy honoured at the event for his 11 consecutive Premier League goal earlier in the season PA 

Dele Alli was named the Young Player of the Year (PA)

Jake Bugg performing at the 2016 PFA Awards EMPICS Sport 

Ryan Giggs was honoured with the PFA Merit Award PA 

Sunderland Ladies' Beth Mead won the PFA Young Women's player of the Year award PA 

Manchester City's Izzy Christiansen poses  was named the PFA Women's player of the Year. PA 

Roy Hodgson, Martin O'Neill, Chris Coleman and Michael O'Neill  honoured for taking England, Republic of  Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively to Euro 2016 PA