Erling Haaland, the Manchester City striker, clinched the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award on Tuesday, following his exceptional inaugural season with the treble-winning team.
Rachel Daly, the standout star from Aston Villa and England, secured the women’s accolade, which is decided by fellow players.
Administered by the Professional Footballers’ Association, these awards celebrate the most outstanding male and female players in English football for the year 2023. Haaland’s debut campaign with City was nothing short of spectacular, recording an impressive 52 goals across all competitions as Pep Guardiola’s squad triumphed in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Defeating strong contenders including John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne, as well as Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, and former Tottenham striker Harry Kane, now playing for Bayern Munich, the 23-year-old claimed the honour.
“It’s a privilege to secure this esteemed award. To be acknowledged by your peers is a truly gratifying experience, and I extend my gratitude to all those who voted for me,” expressed Haaland.
“Last season was unforgettable for both the team and me personally. The treble victory was beyond my imagination, and achieving it with such an exceptional group of players was an incredible sensation.”
He added, “We constructed some remarkable memories last season, and now we aim to replicate that success this year. Our season has commenced on a positive note, and we must maintain the momentum.”
Saka earned the distinction of being the men’s Young Player of the Year, while Lauren James of Chelsea claimed the women’s equivalent.
Daly and James were pivotal contributors to England’s journey to the Women’s World Cup final, which culminated in a loss against Spain earlier this month.
Daly, representing Villa, garnered an impressive tally of 22 goals in the Women’s Super League last season – an extraordinary feat for a player who played at left-back during the Lionesses’ triumphant 2022 Euros campaign.
In a competitive field including Sam Kerr, Frida Maanum, Guro Reiten, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, and Ona Batlle, the 31-year-old emerged triumphant.
