Ronaldo does PFA double on golden night for United

Premiership

Monday, April 23, 2007

By Marc Padgett

Cristiano Ronaldo last night became the first man since 1977 to win both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards when he was honoured at a gala dinner in London.

Not since Andy Gray scooped both the accolades 30 years ago has one player dominated the voting of his fellow professionals.

Ronaldo, 22, has been brilliant for United, who remain on course for a Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League treble.

The achievement is all the more remarkable considering the criticism the Portuguese winger received following England's demise at the World Cup.

Ronaldo beat the 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 is a special night. It is amazing and a big honour for me to win trophies like this in the Premier League. I am very proud. My colleagues have voted for me and that is fantastic because the players know the qualities of players. I want to keep working hard and getting better because these trophies have given me more motivation."

Fabregas finished runner-up in the young player category, 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, 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.

Ferguson added: "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'. I think he is the best player in the world and his season has been incredible."

PFA Player and Young Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United).

PFA Premier League Team of the Year: Edwin van der Sar; Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra; Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Ronaldo (all Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool); Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham Hotspur).

Special Merit Award: Sir Alex Ferguson.