Marseille's Drogba named Ligue 1 player of year

PARIS (Reuters) -- Olympique Marseille striker Didier Drogba has been voted player of the year in Ligue 1, ahead of Ludovic Giuly, the inspirational captain of Champions League semi-finalists Monaco.

Monaco's Didier Deschamps was voted coach of the year by the players union on Sunday following his team's campaigns in Europe and in Ligue 1, where they are a point behind leaders Olympique Lyon.

Ivory Coast international Drogba, who joined Marseille from En Avant Guingamp during the close season, won his award ahead of Giuly as well as Sochaux captain Benoit Pedretti and Nantes defender Mario Yepes, who were also among the contenders.

Five Monaco players were named in the team of the year and 22-year-old Patrice Evra was also voted best young player of the season.

Monaco travel to Chelsea for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday after winning the first home leg 3-1.

Team of the season:

Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon); Bernard Mendy (Paris St Germain), Mario Yepes (Nantes), Sebastien Squillaci (Monaco), Patrice Evra (Monaco); Benoit Pedretti (Sochaux), Lucas Bernardi (Monaco), Juninho Pernambucano (Olympique Lyon), Ludovic Giuly (Monaco); Didier Drogba (Olympique Marseille), Fernando Morientes (Monaco).

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