Gareth Bale Wins PFA Player of the Year

The Professional Footballers’ Association has announced the player of the year and the Premier League first team of the year.

Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur was announced as the player of the year for the 2010-2011 English Premier League Season.

Gareth Bale and the Spurs look to continue their run
into the premier league's top four and qualify for another
champions league campaign

"I am more than delighted, really," he said. "It is a massive award and it is a great honour to receive, especially from other fellow professionals. It is an honour, really, when you look at the names that have won it before and it just makes you go 'wow'. – Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur Midfielder

Tottenham Hotspur Manager, Harry Redknapp, was extremely proud of Bale. He is only the fourth player from Tottenham to win the award in the clubs history. He is the fourth to win behind players like Pat Jennings, Clive Allen, and David Ginola. Bale is well on the path to becoming a Spurs legend and this is a great start down that path. Redknapp has vowed he will not be selling big name stars when the transfer window opens up over the summer.

"It is great for him, he deserves it,'' Redknapp said. "It is a great award for him to win and I could not be more pleased.”

The PFA footballer of the year is won by accumulating votes from all the other professionals in the league. The people Bale plays against week in and week out are the ones who voted him, and Bale believes that these are the guys who know you and your playing best.

The 21-year-old beat out Charlie Adam, Samir Nasri, Scott Parker, Carlos Tevez, Rafael van der Vaart, and Nemanja Vidic. Player of the year was not the only award Bale was up for; he was also nominated as the PFA Young Player of the Year.

However, he was beat out by Arsenal FC’s Jack Wilshere. Wilshere is a 19-year-old midfielder who has also recently won a few caps for the senior English National team.

Jack Wilshere and the Gunners have a lot of work ahead
if they wish make a challenge for the premier league
regular season title

"It is my first full season and it is a massive award, especially from my fellow players," he said. "It is amazing. I am very proud to be the fifth recipient from Arsenal; it is good to keep this history going. Arsenal is a good club for bringing youngsters through and they keep proving it so I would like to thank the manager as well. I am delighted just to be in the team." – Jack Wilshere Arsenal FC Midfielder

Apart from these two special awards, the Premier League Team of the Year was also announced last night. The team of the year included players from five teams in the English Premier League.

Premier League Team of the Year as follows: Edwin Van der Sar (Man Utd), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Kompany (Man City), Nani (Man Utd), Samir Nasri (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Gareth Bale (Tottenham), Carlos Tevez (Man City), Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd).