Post by Taxigirl on Dec 14, 2004 8:37:23 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4093413.stm
AC Milan and Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko has been named European Footballer of the Year.
Barcelona's Deco and Ronaldinho were second and third with Arsenal striker Thierry Henry fourth.
Shevchenko, who joined Milan from Dynamo Kiev in 1999, said: "I'm very pleased to have received this award."
The 28-year-old has scored 102 goals in Serie A over the last six seasons, helping Milan win the Champions League in 2003 and the Italian title in 2004.
Shevchenko was the first foreigner to top the scoring charts in a debut season in Italy with 24 goals in 32 matches.
And last season he was again top scorer in Serie A with 24 goals.
In last year's poll, he was fourth behind Czech winner, Pavel Nedved of Juventus, and is one of three players in line for Fifa's World Player of the Year award.
The others are Ronaldinho and Henry.
Shevchenko becomes the third Ukrainian to win the award after Oleg Blockhin in 1975 and Igor Belanov in 1986.
AC Milan and Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko has been named European Footballer of the Year.
Barcelona's Deco and Ronaldinho were second and third with Arsenal striker Thierry Henry fourth.
Shevchenko, who joined Milan from Dynamo Kiev in 1999, said: "I'm very pleased to have received this award."
The 28-year-old has scored 102 goals in Serie A over the last six seasons, helping Milan win the Champions League in 2003 and the Italian title in 2004.
Shevchenko was the first foreigner to top the scoring charts in a debut season in Italy with 24 goals in 32 matches.
And last season he was again top scorer in Serie A with 24 goals.
In last year's poll, he was fourth behind Czech winner, Pavel Nedved of Juventus, and is one of three players in line for Fifa's World Player of the Year award.
The others are Ronaldinho and Henry.
Shevchenko becomes the third Ukrainian to win the award after Oleg Blockhin in 1975 and Igor Belanov in 1986.