Shearer takes 'player of the decade' award

Alan Shearer was last night announced as the Premier League's Overall Player of the Decade. Shearer was presented with his trophy at the PFA annual dinner, adding to the Domestic Player of the Decade and Outstanding Contribution to the FA Premier League awards he won earlier this month.

Almost three-quarters of a million votes were registered for the 10 Seasons Awards on the Premier League's official website, celebrating the first decade of the Premier League.

The Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "Alan Shearer stood out over our first 10 years because of his enduring quality and phenomenal goal scoring record."

Shearer said: "It is a tremendous honour to have been voted the Overall Best Player in the FA Premier League over the past 10 seasons and I would like to sincerely thank all of the people who were kind enough to vote for me. Given the number of top-quality players who have graced our League since its inception, it really fills me with immense pride to have been given this award."

PFA TEAMS OF SEASON 2002-03

PREMIERSHIP (4-4-2): Friedel (Blackburn); Carr (Tottenham), Campbell (Arsenal), Gallas (Chelsea), Cole (Arsenal); Vieira (Arsenal), Scholes (Manchester Utd), Pires (Arsenal), Dyer (Newcastle), Shearer (Newcastle), Henry (Arsenal).

FIRST DIVISION (4-4-2): Hislop (Portsmouth); Irwin (Wolves), Dawson (Nottingham Forest), Lescott (Wolves), Taylor (Portsmouth); Brown (Sheffield Utd), Izzett (Leicester), Merson (Portsmouth), Tonge (Sheffield Utd); Johnson (Nottingham Forest), Dickov (Leicester).

SECOND DIVISION (4-4-2): Filan (Wigan); Eaden (Wigan), De Vos (Wigan), Hall (Oldham), Bell (Bristol City); Murray (Bristol City), Bullard (Wigan), Kavanagh (Cardiff), Bullock (Blackpool); Earnshaw (Cardiff), Hulse (Crewe).

THIRD DIVISION (4-4-2): Fettis (Hull); Edwards (Wrexham), Lee (Hartlepool), Westwood (Hartlepool), Underwood (Rushden & Diamonds); Humphreys (Hartlepool), Tinkler (Hartlepool), Hall (Rushden & Diamonds), A Russell (Torquay); Morrell (Wrexham), Kitson (Cambridge Utd).