Pick of the bunch . . .
CELTIC’s trophy-winning weekend continued last night when Stefan Johansen was named the PFA Scotland Player of the Year, with team-mate Jason Denayer taking the Young Player award. Johansen beat off competition from team-mate Virgil van Dijk, Adam Rooney of Aberdeen and
Dundee’s Greg Stewart for the main award at the ceremony held in Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel.
Scorer of 12 goals this season, the Norwegian midfielder li f t ed an individual prize just 24 hours after Celtic were c r owned Scottish champions for the fourth successive year.
On loan Manchester City defender Denayer, 19, was also recognised in the Young Player of the Year category, seeing off competition from Hearts duo Sam Nicholson and Jamie Walker plus Ryan Christie of Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Insisting Johansen was a worthy winner, Belgian defender Denayer said: ‘I’m not surprised Stefan is the Player of the Year because he has played very well in a lot of the games from the start of the season until the end.
‘Stefan is a technical player who can dribble with the ball and can defend. I think he’s a very good player.’
John Hughes earned recognition for taking Inverness Caley to a Scottish Cup Final and third place in the Premiership with the Manager of the Year trophy.
‘I am actually quite emotional and overwhelmed that I have won it,’ he said. ‘I only went into football for the love of it, into coaching for the love of it. I went into management because I love it. I am getting paid for something I love.
‘I am a humble guy, this is a bit embarrassing for me. I never felt I would be up there picking up a Manager of the Year award from my peers when I came into football. I never dreamed of that. But it is not about me. I hope it is a reflection of what we are doing up in Inverness.’
Scott Allan, Hibernian’s dynamic young midfielder, won the Championship Player of the Year, with Morton’s on-loan Aberdeen striker Declan McManus taking the League One prize.
Bobby Linn, the Arbroath striker, was named League Two Player of the Year.