Gourcuff is Player of the Year in France

Bordeaux midfielder Yoann Gourcuff was named by his fellow professionals on Sunday as France’s Player of the Year.

The 22-year-old, whose play has drawn comparisons with the great Zinedine Zidane, has been instrumental in the Girondins’ excellent season which currently sees them top of the French first division and needing just one point from next weekend’s final round of games to lift the title.

He has contributed 12 goals and laid on seven others in 26 matches played and also taken on an increasingly key role in the French national side who are in a period of transition under coach Raymond Domenech.

Gourcuff started his career at Rennes, but moved to Italy to play for AC Milan in 2006.

He failed to make his mark there though and joined Bordeaux on loan at the start of this season. He has yet to decided where he will play next season.