Tottenham’s winger Gareth Bale claimed his first important award as a professional football player. The 21 year old Welshman rising star has been voted player of the year by the Professional Footballers’ Association.

The 21-year-old  has scored 11 goals in 36 club games for Tottenham Hotspurs this season, and he  is the fourth Welshman to win the prize after great players such as Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Ryan Giggs.

He said humbly: “”I am more than delighted really. It is a honour, when you look at the names that have won it before and it just makes you go ‘wow’ really.”

The young player of the year award went to Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere, 19.

Despite being voted overall players’ player of the year, Bale was beaten by his Arsenal rival for the young player honour, for which Javier Hernandez, Nasri, Nani, Seamus Coleman and Joe Hart were also nominated.

In winning the player of the year award Bale beat competition from Charlie Adam, Samir Nasri, Scott Parker, Carlos Tevez, Rafael van der Vaart and Nemanja Vidic.

Premier League Team of the Year:

Van der Sar (Man Utd), Sagna(Arsenal), Cole (Chelsea), Vidic (Man Utd), Kompany (Man City), Nani(Man Utd), Nasri (Arsenal), Wilshere (Arsenal), Bale (Tottenham),Tevez (Man City), Berbatov (Man Utd).

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