BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier (original) (raw)

Nakamura has enjoyed an outstanding season in Scotland

Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura has won the Scottish Football Writers' Association Player of the Year award.

And his boss Gordon Strachan was the runaway winner of the Manager of the Year award, his second in a row.

The writers voted Hibernian midfielder Scott Brown as their top young player after a tight contest with Kilmarnock's Steven Naismith.

SFWA president Jim Black said: "This is the 50th anniversary of the Association and we have exceptional winners."

Nakamura, who was also named the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year, beat off strong competition from his Celtic team-mate Stephen McManus.

"Shunsuke Nakamura has been a pleasure to watch," added Black.

"His two free-kicks against Manchester United in the Champions League and Kilmarnock to win the SPL sum him up.

"He can produce moments of brilliance under extreme pressure."

Brown, who made his first Scotland start against Italy in March, has had a great season with Hibs.

The 21-year-old is expected to attract big-money offers from several clubs in the summer.

Like Nakamura, Strachan is celebrating a double, having won the inaugural SPFA manager of the year prize.

Black said: "Gordon Strachan has led Celtic to another championship and the last 16 of the Champions League and deserves to be our manager of the year once again."

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites