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Louis Saha Player of the Year

last updated Monday 08th January 2001, 3:47 PM
Louis Saha
Louis Saha is voted top Nationwide player of 2000

Fulham's Louis Saha has been voted the Nationwide League Player of the Year 2000 by readers of Match, the UK's biggest-selling football magazine.

The French striker, who has spearheaded the Cottagers' relentless pursuit of a place in the Premiership, was an overwhelming choice for the Nationwide's top player.

He polled 57 per cent of the votes while second-placed Matt Jansen, Blackburn's highly rated England Under 21 striker, collected 11 per cent.

Saha's share of the vote is the highest recorded in the Nationwide League category during the three years of Match's annual awards.

Robbie Keane, 1998's winner when he was at Wolves, recorded 24 per cent of the votes then last year Ade Akinbiyi - also while at Wolves - polled 30 per cent.

Saha was delighted to receive the 2000 accolade from the readers of Match, whose bumper issue on Tuesday, 9th January will reveal all the award winners.

The 22 year old Parisian, who had six months on loan at Newcastle in 1999, joined Fulham last summer in a £2.1 million move from French club Metz.

The move has paid off handsomely both for Saha and Fulham, who stepped into 2001 as clear first division leaders and near-certainties for promotion to the top flight.

On receiving his award, Saha said: "I am very happy to be voted Best Nationwide League Player by the readers of Match magazine.

"It's a nice reward after six months that have gone very well at the club, and it gives me a lot of pleasure to receive it. It's also a reward for all the players, though.

"They all deserve it - each one has his own role in the team and carries it out well, which has put us at the top of the table at the moment."
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