Hamburg 
- England-based players dominate a list of 20 candidates for the UEFA club footballer of the year awards nominated by Europe's governing body for the sport on Friday.
Seventeen of the 20 nominees are based in the English Premier League, reflecting the domination by teams from England in last season's Champions League.
European champions Manchester United are best represented with six players, ahead of losing finalists Chelsea with five, Liverpool four and Arsenal two.
Manchester United's candidates are forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, midfielder Paul Scholes, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, and defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
Last year, Brazilian Kaka won the club footballer of the year award as 2006/07 Champions League winners AC Milan almost cleaned up the prizes for each position.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who prevented a Rossoneri clean sweep last season, is again among the nominees among team-mates John Terry, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba.
Four Spanish players playing in England are nominated in the Liverpool pair Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina and the Arsenal duo Cesc Fabregas and Manuel Almunia.
Only Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Carles Puyol and Schalke 04 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer threaten the English monopoly.
The coaches of the 16 teams that reached the knockout phase of last season's Champions League were invited to cast their votes.
The winners will be unveiled at the draw for the Champions League group stage on August 28.
Nominees: Goalkeeper of the Year Manuel Almunia, Arsenal Petr Cech, Chelsea Manuel Neuer, Schalke 04 Pepe Reina, Liverpool Edwin van der Sar, Manchester United
Defender of the Year Jamie Carragher, Liverpool Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United Carles Puyol, Barcelona John Terry, Chelsea Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United
Midfielder of the Year Michael Essien, Chelsea Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal Steven Gerrard, Liverpool Frank Lampard, Chelsea Paul Scholes, Manchester United
Forward of the Year Didier Drogba, Chelsea Lionel Messi, Barcelona Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United Wayne Rooney, Manchester United Fernando Torres, Liverpool (dpa)
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