Henry bags award hat-trick

THIERRY HENRY has been named Footballer of the Year for a record third time by the Football Writers’ Association.

Henry, 28, is the first player in 59 years of the award to receive the accolade three times. Sir Stanley Matthews, Kenny Dalglish, John Barnes and Gary Lineker all won it twice.

It has been a record-breaking season for Arsenal's incredible Frenchman, breaking the club's all-time goalscoring record and leading the Gunners to their first European Cup final, against Barcelona in Paris on May 17.