Manchester United FC

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Prem players dominate list

22 Aug 2008 - 13:03:03

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Premier League players have dominated the shortlist for UEFA's European Club Footballer of the Year awards, with 17 of the 25 players named all based in England.

Cristiano Ronaldo heads the list of nominees for the awards, after his 42 goals helped Manchester United secure a Premier League and Champions League double last season.

Elsewhere, the likes of Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Chelsea duo Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba will compete with Lionel Messi and Carles Puyol of Barcelona for honours.

The shortlist of nominees is open to players who competed in last season's Champions League - during which England had three teams in Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea in the last four.

The coaches of the 16 teams which reached the knockout stages of last season's competition will vote for their team of 2007/08 plus the goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward of the year at next week's draw for this year's group stage in Monaco.

The full list of nominees is:
Goalkeeper of the year: Manuel Almunia (Arsenal), Petr Cech (Chelsea), Manuel Neuer (Schalke), Jose Reina (Liverpool), Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United).

Defender of the year: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United).

Midfielder of the year: Michael Essien (Chelsea), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Paul Scholes (Manchester United).

Forward of the year: Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).