Belgium gives credit to Defour

Promising R. Standard de Liège playmaker Steven Defour has been named Belgium's Player of the Year for 2007 at an awards ceremony in Ostend.

Man in demand
The 19-year-old Defour finished above RSC Anderlecht midfielder Ahmed Hassan and Cercle Brugge KSV striker Tom De Sutter to take the prize won by Anderlecht's Mbark Boussoufa last term. The diminutive Defour caused controversy when leaving KRC Genk for Standard in 2006, having at one point looked destined to join AFC Ajax, but he justified the fuss with some great performances in Liege, being handed the captaincy while still a teenager.

'A huge relief'
"This is a huge relief," Defour said upon learning of his award, which is voted for by a jury of journalists, coaches, former winners and footballing VIPs. "I was the favourite and the disappointment would have been huge had I lost. I can't say if I will stay in Belgium. I am still a Standard player and I would not mind playing for the Rouches next season too." In other categories, Jerome Nfong Nzolo was selected Belgium's best referee of 2007; KV Mechelen were rewarded for having the best fans; and Genk's Tom Soetaers was credited with the goal of the year.