Phil Foden has been named the FWA Footballer of the Year in English professional football. The Manchester City Englishman succeeds his teammate Erling Haaland and follows in the footsteps of Ajax player Jordan Henderson.
The Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award, a highly esteemed accolade in English football, is annually bestowed upon the outstanding performer of the season.
This honor is determined by a vote among approximately four hundred football journalists who are members of the FWA. Since its inception in the 1947/48 season, when Stanley Matthews was its first recipient, the award has celebrated the exceptional talent and achievements of footballers playing in England. Last year, the award was claimed by Erling Haaland for his outstanding performance.
Historically, the award has recognized a diverse group of players from various nationalities. The last English recipient before Phil Foden was Jordan Henderson in the 2019/20 season. Since then, the award has been won by international stars such as Portuguese Rúben Dias, Egyptian Mohamed Salah, and Norwegian Erling Haaland. Notably, the last Dutch player to win was Robin van Persie in the 2011/12 season, with other Dutch legends like Dennis Bergkamp and Frans Thijssen having previously claimed the prize.
Phil Foden's recent win, after scoring sixteen goals and providing seven assists this Premier League season, marks the 39th time an Englishman has won the award. Other frequent winners include players from Scotland (nine times), France (seven times), and Northern Ireland and the Netherlands (four times each). Players from Wales and Portugal have each taken home the award three times. Foden's achievement adds to Manchester City's history of harboring top talent, as this is the seventh time a player from their ranks has won. Liverpool holds the record with fifteen wins, while Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United each have nine. Thierry Henry remains the most frequent winner of the award, having won it three times.
In the women's category, Manchester City celebrated another triumph as Bunny Shaw was named the best female player in England. Shaw's exceptional performance mirrors the achievements of her male counterpart, highlighting Manchester City's strength in both men's and women's football. This accolade not only recognizes Shaw's individual excellence but also emphasizes the growing prominence and recognition of women's football in England.
