Riyad Mahrez beat out the likes of Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane to be named the PFA Player of the Year for his remarkable season with Leicester City. Dele Alli, the Spurs midfielder having a dream season as well, was named the PFA Young Player of the Year.
The winner of the prestigious PFA Player of the Year award was always going to be from Leicester City of Spurs, and while the likes of Vardy, Ngolo Kante and Kane would have been equally deserving of the trophy, Mahrez got the votes and the nod after a stellar season in which he has already bagged 17 goals and 11 assists.
"I'm very grateful to receive this award, it's a pleasure," Mahrez told the PFA website. "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.
"But it's more team things. Without my teammates I wouldn't get this award. All the credit is for them, seriously. 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."
Leicester City are on the brink of winning the title having gone eight points clear with a dominant win over Swansea City on Sunday. Their only rivals for the title are Tottenham, who play on Monday and will have a confident Alli walking onto the pitch having been given the honour of the Young Player of the Year.
"Thank you Ossie, the Tottenham legend, for receiving this award for me," Alli said in a video message after Ossie Ardilles received the award on behalf the young England international, who was not present at the ceremony owing to Spurs' Monday night match. "I feel honoured to win such a prestigious award and thank you to my friends, family and all the staff at Tottenham."
The Women's Player of the Year went to Izzy Christiansen of Manchester City, while Beth Mead of Sunderland won the Women's Young Player of the Year. Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs, who has previously won the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, was given the PFA Merit Award.
