AZ Alkmaar's El Hamdaoui named Dutch Player of Season

AZ Alkmaar's El Hamdaoui named Dutch Player of Season

AZ Alkmaar's Mounir El Hamdaoui fights for the ball with Radek Sirl (R) of Zenit St. Petersburg during their UEFA Cup Group A soccer match in St.Petersburg October 25, 2007.
BRUSSELS, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Dutch premier league champions AZ Alkmaar forward Mounir El Hamdaoui has been named Dutch Player of the Season, brushing aside challenges from Groningen keeper Luciano and Twente attacker Eljero Elia, Dutch media reported on Wednesday.

El Hamdaoui will receive the Golden Boot at a gala event on Aug. 31.

The Rotterdam-born Moroccan international was in superb form throughout the season, which saw AZ Alkmaar win their first ever Dutch title in 28 years. He was the top scorer of the league, scoring 23 goals.

He is the first AZ player to win the Golden Boot, which is awarded on the basis of assessments by former Dutch internationals throughout the course of the season.
(Xinhua)