Pogba named Europa League player of the season

MANCHESTER United midfielder Paul Pogba was named UEFA Europa League Player of the Season 2016-17, beating team mates Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to the prize, European soccer's governing body announced in Monaco on Friday.

The France international was given the award by UEFA President, Aleksander Ceferin on Wednesday but it was only announced on the day of the draw for the 2017/18 Europa League Group Stage.

Pogba, who rejoined United from Juventus last year, started all 15 games and scored three times in Europe's second-tier competition to help United lift the trophy for the first time in May.

The winner of the inaugural prize was chosen by a panel of 48 coaches of the clubs that participated in the Europa League group stage last season and 55 journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group.