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General Sports News

Giggs named player of the year

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 27/04/2009

Ryan Giggs has been named the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year for the first time in his glittering career.

Giggs, 35, has started only 12 Premier League games this season but has played an integral role in betting favourites Manchester United's march towards a potential third straight league crown.

Meanwhile, United players dominated the Premier League Team of the Year line-up.

Defenders Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, winger Cristiano Ronaldo and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar were all named in the all-star XI alongside Giggs.

Liverpool had two players honoured after captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres were named.

Portsmouth and England defender Glen Johnson was given the nod at right-back, while there was a surprise inclusion for Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka up front.

PFA young player of the year Ashley Young of Aston Villa completed the line-up.

Elsewhere on a day of good news for United, teenage Brazilian defender Rafael Da Silva pledged his long-term future to the club after signing a contract which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2013.

Meanwhile, the Football Association has launched an investigation after reports of suspicious betting patterns ahead of Sunday's Conference game between Grays Athletic and Forest Green Rovers.

In Europe, Bayern Munich finally ran out of patience with Jurgen Klinsmann, sacking the under-pressure coach in the aftermath of their 1-0 weekend defeat to Schalke.

Spanish side Getafe also axed their coach, Victor Munoz, following an alarming slide towards the foot of the La Liga table in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Jenson Button believes his victory in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix was the best of his Formula One career so far.

The Brawn GP driver came from fourth on the grid to pass the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton and the two leading Toyotas to claim his third victory of the season.

In rugby union, Biarritz have signed the Gloucester full-back Iain Balshaw on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old, who has won 33 England caps, has spent the last three seasons at Kingsholm and is the latest in a long line of English players to sign for French sides recently.

Elsewhere, Wales fly-half Stephen Jones has denied rumours suggesting he is on the verge of leaving Scarlets and Cardiff Blues fly-half Nicky Robinson is on the standby list for the British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa this summer.

Twent-seven-year-old Robinson, who has agreed to play for Gloucester next season, has won 12 caps for Wales although he has not played for his country in the last three years.

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