Mo Salah becomes first Egyptian footballer to win English player's award

Mo Salah becomes first Egyptian footballer to win English player's award
Liverpool's Mo Salah has won the English Premiership's players' player of the year award, becoming the first Egyptian to pick up the prize.
2 min read
23 April, 2018
Salah has already become a Liverpool legend [AFP]
Liverpool striker Mohammed "Mo" Salah has picked up the English Premiership Players' Player of the Year award, becoming the first Egyptian ever to win the prestigious prize.

Salah beat Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne - among others - to win the award, after a hugely impressive season that has helped put Liverpool in third place and a strong chance of winning the Champions League.

The 25-year-old is top of the Premier League's goalscoring table with 31 goals - averaging more than a goal a game. 

"It's an honour and especially as it's voted by the players. I am happy and proud," Salah said.

Asked how it feels to become the first Egyptian to pick up the prize, he said: "Hopefully I'm not the last one. I'm very proud to win and I've worked very hard."

In Liverpool, Salah has also become a cult favourite and his name regularly chanted on the stands of the Kop. Songs about Salah are also commonly heard at Liverpool games.

Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp has also frequently sung Salah's praises.

As Salah picked up the award, Klopp said he was "happy to have the opportunity" to work with the Egyptian and it was an "unbelievable honour" to manage him, according to BBC Sport.

"It's been a fantastic ride but we still have games to go," Klopp said. "But please grab the trophy and come home. We play on Tuesday!"

Salah still has the chance of winning the Champions League trophy, with Liverpool in the semi-finals of probably the world's most prestigious club tournament.
Salah has already broken a number of records during his short stint at Liverpool.

Earlier this month he became the first Liverpool player in over 30 years to score 40 goals a season in all tourmanents. Salah has also set his sights on the all-time record of 47 goals in a season for Liverpool, which is currently held by Welsh legend Ian Rush.

He also reached the all-time top Premiership goalscoring record this weekend with his 31st goal and looks likely to peak this as Liverpool still have three games left until the end of the season.

The Egyptian national has also been a huge inspiration in his home country and will likely lead the team during Egypt's rare World Cup campaign this summer.