Teddy Sheringham last night celebrated an awards double, picking up the Professional Footballers' Assocation's Player of the Year award to add to his Football Writers' Footballer of the Year award he won last week. The Manchester United striker beat last year's winner, fellow United team-mate and Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane, who finished runner-up to the England international while Arsenal's French hit-man Thierry Henry was third.
Sheringham, the oldest recipient of the prize was thrilled to have been honoured by his fellow professionals. "It's the biggest personal award you can get in the game and it's something that you really cherish. It's a great list of previous winners and it's one of those things you will look back on in years to come," he said.
Liverpool's star midfielder Steven Gerrard won the Young Player of the Year award ahead of West Ham's Joe Cole and Manchester United's Wes Brown. The 20-year-old did not hide his delight at winning the award. "I was in contention for the award last year and I really wanted to win it this year," he beamed. "I'm pleased that I have because it was a very good shortlist and there are some very good young players around."
Elsewhere, Republic of Ireland and Tottenham full-back Stephen Carr joined his international team-mate Roy Keane in being named on the PFA's Premiership Team of the Year while Ireland's Damien Duff and Steve Finnan were both named on the Nationwide Division 1 team.
Meanwhile, Sheringham's agent insists the player does not have a problem with Manchester United's offer of just a one-year contract. Barry Nevill has also rubbished suggestions that Sheringham has agreed to join Nationwide League champions Fulham next season. He has insisted that talks with United are still continuing, with the striker considering United's offer of a 12-month deal, worth a reported £35,000-a-week, to replace his current one-year agreement. He insisted: "That's not a problem with Teddy or with Manchester United as far as the talks are concerned. Nothing has changed really and the talks with Manchester United are still on going."
Filed by Shane Murray
