PARIS -- Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was voted the French leagues player of the year by his fellow professionals for the second straight season. Ibrahimovic beat off competition from teammates Thiago Silva and Thiago Motta and Monaco midfielder James Rodriguez to win the top award in French football on Sunday. The Sweden striker has scored 40 goals in all competitions for PSG this season, including a chest-high backheel flick in a 4-0 win over Bastia in October which was voted most beautiful goal of the year. The Parisian club clinched the French league title on Wednesday. "I believe this was my best season," Ibrahimovic said. "I think our team had a great season and I hope it will continue next year." Ibrahimovic was also selected in the French leagues team of the year alongside five teammates. PSGs Salvatore Sirigu was picked as goalkeeper while Toulouse right back Serge Aurier, PSG centre back Thiago Silva, Saint-Etienne defender Loic Perrin and Monaco leftback Layvin Kurzawa formed the back four. PSG duo Marco Verratti and Thiago Motta joined Monaco playmaker James Rodriguez in midfield. Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette and PSG striker Edinson Cavani completed the attacking trio. Lille coach Rene Girard was voted coach of the year, fending off competition from PSGs Laurent Blanc, Monacos Claudio Ranieri and Lyons Remi Garde. With one round left, Lille sits in third place in the French league, behind champion PSG and Monaco. Only two other players have twice won the top award in French football: former Bordeaux striker Pedro Pauleta and Eden Hazard when he was with Lille. Past winners of the award include David Ginola, Zinedine Zidane, Didier Drogba and Karim Benzema. . 17.A string of English Premier League teams, most in the lower end of the standings, has been linked to the 32-year-old forward but most have seemingly balked at the cost given his wages and transfer fee. . A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press the Steelers will part ways with the former Pro Bowler, a move that hardly serves as a surprise after fifth-year linebacker Jason Worilds agreed to accept a "transition player" tag last week.
http://www.cheapflyersjerseysauthentic. ... rth-jersey. -- The Atlanta Braves are facing the possibility of losing another pitcher for the season after general manager Frank Wren said Saturday that Cory Gearrin has a serious injury to his right elbow. . Not bad for a defenceman. The goal, that is. Although the shuffling dance steps werent bad, either. Barrie scored 55 seconds into overtime, Semyon Varlamov stopped 29 shots, and the Avalanche moved a step closer to their first playoff berth in four years with a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. . The 30-year-old Texas native was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 20th round of the 2001 amateur draft. Duke spent six years in Pittsburgh and also had stints with Arizona, Washington and Cincinnati.NYON, Switzerland - UEFA says it has opened disciplinary proceedings against FC Basel after the Swiss sides fans threw fireworks onto the pitch during a Europa League match against Salzburg, causing a brief suspension of play. The incident occurred in the first half of Basels 2-1 victory in the last-16 second leg in Austria, which put the team through to the quuarter-finals.dddddddddddd The match referee decided to take the players off the pitch for about 10 minutes. UEFA says in a statement on Friday that Basel was being disciplined for the "setting-off and throwing of fireworks and improper conduct of the team." UEFAs control and disciplinary body will deal with the matter on Wednesday. ' ' '
