Cannavaro European Player of Year, says Real president

MADRID, Nov 18 (Reuters) Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has been named European Footballer of the Year by France Football magazine, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said.

''The joy at Cannavaro winning the Ballon d'Or has been overshadowed by the sad news of the death of Ferenc Puskas today,'' Calderon told reporters yesterday.

The 33-year-old centre-back, who captained Italy to victory at the World Cup in Germany, joined Real from Juventus along with Brazilian midfielder Emerson in July.

France Football will not officially announce who has won the award, which is based on a vote by European soccer journalists, until November. 27.

Cannavaro, who will replace Barcelona's Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho as last year's winner, will become one of the few defenders to win the award.

Hungarian great Puskas died in hosptial yesterday aged 79 after a long illness.

REUTERS PDS PM0529