The Professional Footballers' Association Men's Players' Player of the Year (often called the PFA Men's Players' Player of the Year, the Players' Player of the Year, or simply the Player of the Year) is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the year in
English football. The award has been presented since the
1973–74 season and the winner is chosen by a vote amongst the members of the players'
trade union
A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...
, the
Professional Footballers' Association (PFA). The current holder is
Phil Foden of
Manchester City
Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...
, who won the award for the first time on 20 August 2024.
The first winner of the award was
Leeds United defender
Norman Hunter. As of 2024, only
Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes (born 1 November 1963) is a Welsh association football, football coach and former player who is the head coach of club Carlisle United F.C., Carlisle United.
During his playing career he usually operated as a Forward (asso ...
,
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer (born 13 August 1970) is an English Association football, football pundit and former professional player who played as a striker (association football), striker. Widely regarded as one of the best strikers of all time and one of t ...
,
Thierry Henry,
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (; born 5 February 1985) is a Portuguese professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football), forward for and Captain (association football), captains both Saudi Pr ...
,
Gareth Bale
Gareth Frank Bale (born 16 July 1989) is a Welsh former professional Association football, footballer who played as a right winger, most notably for Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid CF, Real Madrid, and the Wales national ...
,
Kevin De Bruyne and
Mohamed Salah have won the award on two occasions, and only Henry, Ronaldo and De Bruyne have won the award in consecutive seasons. Of the seven, only Shearer won his two awards playing for different teams. Although there is a separate
PFA Young Player of the Year award, young players remain eligible to win the senior award, and on three occasions the same player has won both awards for a season,
Andy Gray in 1976–77, Ronaldo in 2006–07 and Bale in 2012–13. Only three non-European players have won the award:
Luis Suárez
Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz (; born 24 January 1987) is a Uruguayan professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Striker (association football), striker for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami CF, Inter Miami. Known for his go ...
(Uruguay) in 2013–14,
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) in 2015–16, and
Mohamed Salah (Egypt) in 2017–18 and 2021–22.
Every spring, each member of the association votes for two players. A shortlist of nominees is published in April and the winner of the award, along with the winners of the PFA's other annual awards, is announced at a gala event in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. The award is regarded by the players themselves as extremely prestigious, with
Teddy Sheringham
Edward Paul "Teddy" Sheringham (born 2 April 1966) is an English football manager and former player. He played as a forward, mostly as a second striker, in a 24-year professional career. Sheringham was part of the Manchester United team tha ...
describing it in 2001 as "the biggest personal award you can get in the game", and
John Terry stating in 2005 that he considered it "the ultimate accolade to be voted for by your fellow professionals whom you play against week-in and week-out".
Winners
The award has been presented on 51 occasions as of 2024, with 44 different winners.
The women's award has been presented since 2013, with nine different winners. The table also indicates where the winning player also won one or more of the other major "player of the year" awards in English football, namely the Football Writers' Association's
Footballer of the Year award (FWA), the
PFA Fans' Player of the Year award (FPY), the
PFA Young Player of the Year award (YPY),
the
Premier League Player of the Season award (PPS), the
Premier League Young Player of the Season award (PYS) and the Football Supporters’ Federation
Player of the Year award (FSF).

{, class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
, +Winners of the PFA Players' of the Year
, -
!Year
!
!Player!!Club!!class="unsortable", Also won!!class="unsortable" align=center, Notes
, -
,
1973–74 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Leeds United , , , ,
, -
,
1974–75 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Derby County , , , ,
, -
,
1975–76 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Tottenham Hotspur , , , ,
, -
,
1976–77 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Aston Villa , , YPY, ,
, -
,
1977–78 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest Football Club is a professional association football club based in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English football.
Founde ...
, , , ,
, -
,
1978–79 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...
, , , ,
, -
,
1979–80 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
, , FWA, ,
, -
,
1980–81 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Ipswich Town, , , ,
, -
,
1981–82 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Southampton
Southampton is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. It is located approximately southwest of London, west of Portsmouth, and southeast of Salisbury. Southampton had a population of 253, ...
, , , ,
, -
,
1982–83 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
, , FWA, ,
, -
,
1983–84 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
, , FWA, ,
, -
,
1984–85 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Everton, , , ,
, -
,
1985–86 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Everton , , FWA, ,
, -
,
1986–87 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Tottenham Hotspur , , FWA, ,
, -
,
1987–88 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
, , FWA, ,
, -
,
1988–89 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
, , , ,
, -
,
1989–90 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Aston Villa, , , ,
, -
,
1990–91 , , , , align=left, (2) , , align=left,
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
, , , ,
, -
,
1991–92 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
, , , ,
, -
,
1992–93 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Aston Villa, , , ,
, -
,
1993–94 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
, , , ,
, -
,
1994–95 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Blackburn Rovers, , PPS , ,
, -
,
1995–96 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Newcastle United, , , ,
, -
,
1996–97 , , , , align=left, (2) , , align=left,
Newcastle United , , , ,
, -
,
1997–98 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...
, , FWA, ,
, -
,
1998–99 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Tottenham Hotspur , , FWA, ,
, -
,
1999–2000 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
, , FWA, ,
, -
,
2000–01 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
, , FWA, ,
, -
,
2001–02 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
, , FPY, ,
, -
,
2002–03 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...
, , FWA, FPY, ,
, -
,
2003–04 , , , , align=left, (2), , align=left,
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...
, , FWA, FPY, PPS, ,
, -
,
2004–05 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Chelsea, , , ,
, -
,
2005–06 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
, , , ,
, -
,
2006–07 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
, , FWA, FPY, YPY, PPS, ,
, -
,
2007–08 , , , , align=left, (2) , , align=left,
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
, , FWA, FPY, PPS, ,
, -
,
2008–09 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
, , , ,
, -
,
2009–10 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
, , FWA, FPY, PPS , ,
, -
,
2010–11 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Tottenham Hotspur , , , ,
, -
,
2011–12 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...
, , FWA, FPY , ,
, -
,
2012–13 , , , , align=left, (2) , , align=left,
Tottenham Hotspur , , FWA, YPY, PPS , ,
, -
,
2013–14 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
, , FWA, FPY, PPS, FSF , ,
, -
,
2014–15 , , , , align=left, , , align=left,
Chelsea , , FWA, PPS , ,
, -
,
2015–16 , , {{sort, {{flagicon, ALG, , align="left" , {{sortname, Riyad, Mahrez , , align="left" ,
Leicester City, , FPY , ,
, -
,
2016–17 , , {{sort, {{flagicon, FRA, 1974, , align="left" , {{sortname, N'Golo, Kanté , , align="left" ,
Chelsea, , FWA, PPS , ,
, -
,
2017–18 , , {{sort, {{flagicon, EGY, , align="left" , {{sortname, Mohamed, Salah , , align="left" ,
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
, , FWA, FPY, PPS, FSF , ,
, -
,
2018–19 , , {{sort, {{flagicon, NED, , align="left" , {{sortname, Virgil, van Dijk , , align="left" ,
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
, , PPS, FSF , ,
, -
,
2019–20 , , {{sort, {{flagicon, Belgium, , align="left" , {{sortname, Kevin, De Bruyne , , align="left" ,
Manchester City
Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...
, , PPS , ,
, -
,
2020–21 , , {{sort, {{flagicon, Belgium, , align="left" , {{sortname, Kevin, De Bruyne (2) , , align="left" ,
Manchester City
Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...
, , , ,
, -
,
2021–22 , , {{sort, {{flagicon, EGY, , align="left" ,
Mohamed Salah (2), , align="left" ,
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
, , FWA, FPY , ,
, -
,
2022–23 , , {{sort, {{flagicon, NOR, , align="left" ,
Erling Haaland
Erling Braut Haaland (, ; born 21 July 2000) is a Norwegian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Striker (association football), striker for club Manchester City F.C., Manchester City and the Norway national football te ...
, , align="left" ,
Manchester City
Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...
, , FWA, FPY, PPS, PYS , ,
[{{cite news, title=Man City's Haaland wins PFA Player of the Year, publisher=BBC Sport, url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66650723, date=29 August 2023, access-date=29 August 2023]
, -
,
2023–24 , , {{sort, {{flagicon, ENG, , align="left" ,
Phil Foden , , align="left" ,
Manchester City
Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...
, , FWA, PPS , ,
[{{cite news, url=https://www.thepfa.com/news/2024/8/20/pfa-awards-players-player-phil-foden, title=Phil Foden Named PFA Players’ Player of the Year, publisher=Professional Footballers' Association, access-date=20 August 2024, date=20 August 2024]
Breakdown of winners
By country
{, class="wikitable sortable" style="width:90%"
, +Winners of the PFA Players' Player of the Year by country
, -
!Width=32%, Country!!Width=18%, Number of wins!!Width=50% class="unsortable", Winning years
, -
, {{flag, England , , {{center, 19 , ,
1973–74,
1974–75,
1977–78,
1979–80,
1981–82,
1984–85,
1985–86,
1986–87,
1987–88,
1989–90,
1991–92,
1994–95,
1995–96,
1996–97,
2000–01,
2004–05,
2005–06,
2009–10,
2023–24
, -
, {{flag, Wales , , {{center, 6 , ,
1983–84,
1988–89,
1990–91,
2008–09,
2010–11,
2012–13
, -
, {{flag, France, 1974 , , {{center, 5 , ,
1993–94,
1998–99,
2002–03,
2003–04,
2016–17
, -
, {{flag, Netherlands , , {{center, 4, ,
1997–98,
2001–02,
2011–12,
2018–19
, -
, {{flag, Scotland , , {{center, 3 , ,
1976–77,
1980–81,
1982–83
, -
, {{flag, Republic of Ireland , , {{center, 3 , ,
1978–79,
1992–93,
1999–2000
, -
, {{flag, Belgium , , {{center, 3 , ,
2014–15,
2019–20,
2020–21
, -
, {{flag, Portugal , , {{center, 2 , ,
2006–07,
2007–08
, -
, {{flag, Egypt , , {{center, 2 , ,
2017–18,
2021–22
, -
, {{flag, Northern Ireland , , {{center, 1 , ,
1975–76
, -
, {{flag, Uruguay , , {{center, 1 , ,
2013–14
, -
, {{flag, Algeria , , {{center, 1 , ,
2015–16
, -
, {{flag, Norway , , {{center, 1 , ,
2022–23
By club
{, class="wikitable sortable" style="width:90%"
, +Winners of the PFA Players' Player of the Year by club
, -
!width=32%, Club!!Width=18%, Number of wins!!Width=50% class="unsortable", Winning years
, -
,
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
, , {{center, 11 , ,
1988–89,
1990–91,
1991–92,
1993–94,
1999–2000,
2000–01,
2001–02,
2006–07,
2007–08,
2008–09,
2009–10
, -
,
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
, , {{center, 9 , ,
1979–80,
1982–83,
1983–84,
1987–88,
2005–06,
2013–14,
2017–18,
2018–19,
2021–22
, -
,
Tottenham Hotspur , , {{center, 5 , ,
1975–76,
1986–87,
1998–99,
2010–11,
2012–13
, -
,
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...
, , {{center, 5 , ,
1978–79,
1997–98,
2002–03,
2003–04,
2011–12
, -
,
Manchester City
Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...
, , {{center, 4 , ,
2019–20,
2020–21,
2022–23,
2023–24
, -
,
Chelsea , , {{center, 3 , ,
2004–05,
2014–15,
2016–17
, -
,
Aston Villa , , {{center, 3 , ,
1976–77,
1989–90,
1992–93
, -
,
Everton , , {{center, 2 , ,
1984–85,
1985–86
, -
,
Newcastle United , , {{center, 2 , ,
1995–96,
1996–97
, -
,
Leeds United , , {{center, 1 , ,
1973–74
, -
,
Derby County , , {{center, 1 , ,
1974–75
, -
,
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest Football Club is a professional association football club based in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English football.
Founde ...
, , {{center, 1 , ,
1977–78
, -
,
Ipswich Town , , {{center, 1 , ,
1980–81
, -
,
Southampton
Southampton is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. It is located approximately southwest of London, west of Portsmouth, and southeast of Salisbury. Southampton had a population of 253, ...
, , {{center, 1 , ,
1981–82
, -
,
Blackburn Rovers , , {{center, 1 , ,
1994–95
, -
,
Leicester City , , {{center, 1 , ,
2015–16
See also
*
Premier League Player of the Season
*
FWA Footballer of the Year
References
{{Reflist, 30em
External links
The official website of the Professional Footballers' Association
{{PFA Players' Player of the Year
{{English football awards
{{National Footballer of the Year
{{featured list
English football trophies and awards
England 1
Awards established in 1974
1974 establishments in England
Annual events in England
Annual sporting events in the United Kingdom