The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland Players' Player of the Year (often called the PFAI Players' Player of the Year, the Players' Player of the Year, or simply the Irish Player of the Year) award is given to the footballer the
League of Ireland Premier Division
The League of Ireland Men's Premier Division (), also known as the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in the Republic of Ireland and the highest level of the Republic of I ...
, who is seen to have been the best player of the previous season.
Ireland – Player of the Year and Other Awards
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The shortlist is compiled by the members of the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland
The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland (PFAI) is the representative body for professional and semi-professional footballers in Republic of Ireland. Players from all nationalities in the League of Ireland are represented, not just Iri ...
(the PFAI), and then the winner is voted for by the other players in the league. The prize is regarded as the highest awarded by the PFAI and is seen as the primary "Player of the Year" award in Ireland.
The award was first given in 1981, and was won by Athlone Town
Athlone Town Association Football Club is an Irish football club from Athlone who are playing in the League of Ireland. The club is the oldest in the League as it was founded in 1887. First elected to the League of Ireland in 1922, they play t ...
player Padraig O'Connor. The latest winner of the award is Dylan Watts
Dylan Watts (born 11 April 1997) is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Shamrock Rovers F.C., Shamrock Rovers. He has also played for University College Dublin A.F.C., UCD, Leicester City F.C., Leicester City and had a loan spell wi ...
of Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers Football Club is an Irish professional Association football, football club based in Tallaght, South Dublin. The club's senior team competes in the League of Ireland Premier Division and it is List of football clubs by competit ...
.
List of winners
''Highlighted players are winning the award for a second time.''
2020s
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
Breakdown of winners
Winners by club
Winners by country
See also
*PFAI Young Player of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland Players' Young Player of the Year (often called the PFAI Players' Young Player of the Year, the PFAI Young Player of the Year, or simply the Young Player of the Year) award is given to the footb ...
*PFAI Team of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland Team of the Year (often called the PFAI Team of the Year, or simply the Team of the Year) is an annual award given to the group of eleven players voted by their fellow players as having perform ...
References
External links
Professional Footballers Association of Ireland
{{National Footballer of the Year
Ireland, PFAI Professional Footballers Association of Ireland Player of the Year
Awards established in 1981
1981 establishments in Ireland
Annual events in Ireland
League of Ireland Premier Division
Association football player non-biographical articles