English stars on Uefa shortlist

Top flight players dominate list

By Amanda Cornforth   Last updated: 22nd August 2008

Frank Lampard Chelsea

Lampard: Award shortlist

Also see

A host of Premier League players have been included in the shortlist for this year's European Club Footballer of the Year awards.

The list, announced on Friday by Uefa, is dominated by Premier League players with 17 from the top flight named out of the total 25.

With Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool all reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals last season and United overcoming Chelsea on penalties in the Moscow final, it is no surprise that many players are included.

Named

Amongst those named is last year's Champions League top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Chelsea's Frank Lampard, who will all be leading contenders.

Jamie Carragher, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney have also been included.

Vote

The winner is voted for by the coaches of the 16 teams which reached the knock-out stages of last year's competition. They will cast their votes next Thursday at the Champions League group stage draw in Monaco.

There are also individual awards for goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward of the year.

The list of nominees, from which the overall winner will be selected, is:

Goalkeeper of the year: Manuel Almunia (Arsenal), Petr Cech

(Chelsea), Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke 04), 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).