Offered at the discontinue of every season since 1973/74, the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year award recognises the most provocative player in English football every campaign.
And as it be voted for by the recipient’s fellow professionals, it be belief about among the greatest particular person accolades a player can find.
Tons of broad names have bought their fingers on the prize down the years – let’s trot by means of them all…
1. Norman Hunter (1973/74)
Leeds United icon Norman Hunter won the inaugural PFA Player of the Year award after serving to the Whites to the First Division title with a season of rock-like shows at the wait on.
A World Cup winner with England in 1966, Hunter featured 726 times in serious about Leeds – who renamed Elland Road’s South Stand in his honour following his loss of life in 2020.
2. Colin Todd (1974/75)
The 1974/75 campaign noticed Derby County topped champions of England for the 2d time – and a centre-half of scoop PFA Player of the Year for the 2d time.
Signed by Brian Clough in 1971, Todd spent the height years of his career at Derby – with whom he also won the 1971/72 title – and earned 27 England caps.
3. Pat Jennings (1975/76)
The first goalkeeper to find the award, Pat Jennings has to trot down as one of the splendid of all time in his build of residing.
Capped 119 times by Northern Eire, Jennings executed one extra season for Tottenham after 1975/76 – earlier than crossing the North London divide to join Arsenal.
4. Andy Grey (1976/77)
In 1976/77, the PFA Player of the Year prize at final went to an attacking player: Andy Grey, then of Aston Villa.
The Scot shared that season’s Golden Boot with Malcolm Macdonald of Arsenal, scoring 26 league goals as Villa carried out fourth in the First Division – in a campaign which also noticed them find the League Cup.
5. Peter Shilton (1977/78)
Peter Shilton’s impressive first season at Nottingham Woodland noticed him develop into the 2d ‘keeper to gather the honour.
The England used to be integral as Brian Clough’s legendary Woodland side won the 1977-78 First Division title – earlier than occurring to considerable person in their European Cup triumphs in every of the following two campaigns.
6. Liam Brady (1978/seventy 9)
Arsenal memoir Liam Brady used to be the first player from originate air the UK to be named PFA Player of the Year, amassing the gong in the Gunners’ FA Cup-successful season.
The Irish attacking midfielder headed to Italy in 1980, playing for Juventus, Sampdoria, Inter Milan and Ascoli earlier than returning to England to form his career with West Ham.
7. Terry McDermott (1979/80)
Terry McDermott won five English titles and three European Cups with Liverpool for the duration of the 70s and 80s.
And it used to be for the duration of one of his final seasons at Anfield that the ex-England midfielder used to be voted PFA Player of the Year, having helped the Reds place their First Division crown below Bob Paisley.
8. John Wark (1980/81)
The 1980/81 season used to be perhaps the splendid in Ipswich Town’s history, as Bobby Robson guided the Suffolk membership to UEFA Cup glory.
Thought to be by Town fans to be among thew very most provocative players they’ve ever had, versatile midfielder John Wark top-scored in that competitors with 14 goals and located the catch 36 times in all competitions.
9. Kevin Keegan (1981/82)
The first English recipient of the Ballon d’Or – successful it in 1978 and 1979 while playing in Germany for Hamburg – Kevin Keegan signed for Southampton in 1980.
His first season wait on in England did no longer yield any trophies for the Saints, however one of the splendid players this nation has ever produced did bigger than ample to direct PFA Player of the Year.
10. Kenny Dalglish (1982/83)
Kenny Dalglish would find 12 predominant trophies with Liverpool for the duration of the 80s – and he peaceful himself a prestigious particular person accolade as the Reds have been topped champions of England in Bob Paisley’s final season as manager.
Dalglish nearly did a momentous double in 1983, too, also ending as Ballon d’Or runner-up.
11. Ian Lag (1983/84)
In 1983/84, the PFA Player of the Year award stayed with Liverpool, as Ian Lag’s 47 goals fired the Reds to another First Division title and European Cup glory.
Lag doubled up by also claiming the Soccer Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year prize, having been named PFA Younger Player of the Year the old season.
12. Peter Reid (1984/85)
It crossed from the Purple half of to the Blue half of, however the award remained on Merseyside in 1984/85, as Everton memoir Peter Reid used to be honoured as English football’s most provocative that season.
Reid – who grew up a Liverpool fan – used to be pivotal in midfield as the Toffees’ ended their local opponents’ grip on the First Division title by successful it themselves.
13. Gary Lineker (1985/86)
The 1985/86 campaign noticed Liverpool accept their First Division crown – however PFA Player of the Year went to Everton again, this time to Gary Lineker.
Lineker top-scored with 30 league goals in his sole season at Goodison Park, also successful the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup earlier than joining Terry Venables’ Barcelona.
14. Clive Allen (1986/87)
Clive Allen did the PFA and FWA awards double in 1986/87, as he banged in 49 goals in all competitions for Tottenham – who carried out third in the top flight and reached the FA Cup final.
Allen left Spurs for Bordeaux in 1988, later returning to England to play for two of their opponents – Chelsea and West Ham – as well to a transient stint as a placekicker for the London Monarchs NFL personnel!
15. John Barnes (1987/88)
After its transient detour to London, the PFA Player of the Year award returned to Merseyside in 1987/88 – to John Barnes, who enjoyed a wonderful first season at Liverpool.
One of England’s splendid ever players, the splendid winger (and later rapper) scored 15 goals en route to the Reds’ title triumph below player-manager Kenny Dalglish.
16. Ticket Hughes (1988/89, 1990/91)
The first Manchester United player to be named PFA Player of the Year, Ticket Hughes used to be also the first double winner of the award.
Sparky’s two particular person accolades came after returning to United from Barcelona, and he’d trot on to play an limitless portion in the membership’s first two Premier League triumphs below Alex Ferguson.
17. David Platt (1989/90)
David Platt’s sole career league title came in 1997/98 with Arsenal – however he almost helped Aston Villa find the First Division in eight years earlier, scoring 19 goals from midfield.
He went on to considerable person for England at the 1990 World Cup, in the wreck earning himself a cross to Bari in Serie A – where he also turned out for Juventus and Sampdoria.
18. Gary Pallister (1991/92)
Man United have been crushed to the title by Leeds in the final season of the aged First Division, however one of their predominant males at the wait on used to be acknowledged as the league’s outstanding particular person.
Gary Pallister spent 9 years at Used Trafford in all, making 437 appearances for the Purple Devils and successful four Premier League titles.
19. Paul McGrath (1992/93)
Pallister’s predecessor at United, Paul McGrath claimed his PFA Player of the Year victory in his first season after leaving Used Trafford, serving to Ron Atkinson’s Aston Villa form as First Division runners-up in the wait on of his (and his manager’s) faded membership.
The faded Republic of Eire world persisted to excel at the absolute best level despite struggling with continual knee problems.
20. Eric Cantona (1993/94)
The Premier League’s first continental celeb, the inimitable Eric Cantona executed the most provocative football of his career for the duration of a five-300 and sixty five days spell at the very discontinue of it.
One of Man United’s splendid players of all time, the enigmatic Frenchman scored 18 goals in 34 league appearances as Ferguson’s males retained the title in 1993/94 – and doubled that up with victory in the FA Cup.
21. Alan Shearer (1994/95, 1996/97)
Alan Shearer is accurate up there with the most scientific finishers the English sport has ever considered, and his deadly SAS partnership with Chris Sutton fired Blackburn Rovers to their historic 1994/95 Premier League title.
Shearer netted 34 times in all competitions that season, and 28 times in 1997/98 – his first campaign with Newcastle.
22. Les Ferdinand (1995/96)
Les Ferdinand most provocative spent two seasons at Newcastle – however he left rather a tag, banging in 41 goals in 68 Premier League appearances.
Twenty-five of those came in the 1995/96 campaign – which used to be barely ample for third field in the Golden Boot trot, however his overall performances noticed him named PFA Player of the Year.
23. Dennis Bergkamp (1997/98)
One of the most technically talented players ever to grace the Premier League, Dennis Bergkamp used to be a genius – as he showed limitless times for the duration of his career-defining 11-300 and sixty five days spell with Arsenal.
As nicely as his first of three league titles with the Gunners, 1997/98 yielded Bergkamp every the marquee PFA and FWA awards – while he also won the BBC‘s Aim of the Season competitors.
24. David Ginola (1998/99)
In the final season of the twentieth century, the PFA Player of the Year trophy made the short trot back and forth across North London from Arsenal to Tottenham, and to David Ginola.
The silky-haired, silky-professional Frenchman helped Spurs to success in the 1998/99 League Cup, making 124 appearances for the membership in all.
25. Roy Keane (1999/2000)
Roy Keane kicked off another PFA Player of the Year successful budge for Man United in 1999/2000, producing a season’s price of captain’s performances as he won his fifth of seven Premier League titles with Ferguson’s Purple Devils.
It used to be also the most provocative goalscoring campaign of the iconic midfield hardman’s career: he struck 12 times in all competitions.
26. Teddy Sheringham (2000/01)
Teddy Sheringham’s final season at Used Trafford noticed him find his third Premier League title with United, scoring 15 goals in 29 outings alongside the ability.
The faded England world found the catch 21 times in league and cup that duration of time – his most provocative return in a Purple Devils shirt – earlier than re-joining Spurs.
27. Ruud van Nistelrooy (2001/02)
Sheringham’s Man United successor. Ruud van Nistelrooy wasted no time in endearing himself to the membership’s fans, tearing up the Premier League with a 23-aim debut season.
The devastating Dutch poacher followed up his PFA triumph by claiming the Golden Boot in 2002/03 – as well to to the tiny topic of the title.
28. Thierry Henry (2002/03, 2003/04)
It took 40 years for any person to scheme two successive seasons magnificent ample to find wait on-to-wait on PFA Player of the Year awards – and no one would have been greatly surprised when Thierry Henry grew to develop into the first to discontinue the feat.
The legendary French aim machine claimed the accolade for a 2d time as a member of Arsenal’s Premier League-successful Invincibles.
29. John Terry (2004/05)
In 2004/05, Chelsea ended their 50-300 and sixty five days wait to be topped champions of England again – and membership memoir John Terry used to be the man wearing the captain’s armband.
An absolute rock at the wait on, Terry and his Blues defensive colleagues helped Jose Mourinho’s side withhold a out of the ordinary 25 tidy sheets in 38 Premier League games, conceding simply 15 goals – every competitors records.
30. Steven Gerrard (2005/06)
The mid-2000s brought the pinnacle of Steven Gerrard’s career, as the inspirational Liverpool skipper captained his personnel to Champions League and FA Cup glory in successive seasons.
PFA Younger Player of the Year for 2000/01, Gerrard went and bought his fingers on the senior award five years later – capping the campaign with two magnificent goals in the Reds’ FA Cup final comeback in opposition to West Ham.
31. Cristiano Ronaldo (2006/07, 2007/08)
Cristiano Ronaldo followed in Henry’s footsteps by selecting up PFA Player of the Year twice in as many seasons – two of his most prolific in a Man United shirt.
The 2007/08 campaign used to be surely the Portuguese all-time substantial’s most provocative for United, as he gathered 42 goals in all competitions en route to a Premier League and Champions League double.
32. Ryan Giggs (2008/09)
Sixteen years went by between the 2d of Ryan Giggs’ two PFA Younger Player of the Year awards and his one success in the senior class.
One of the most decorated players in Man United’s history, the Welsh flit wizard scooped the prize alongside his tenth of 13 Premier League winners’ medals.
33. Wayne Rooney (2009/10)
Three in a row has been rather a celebrated incidence for United where this award is anxious, and it used to be Wayne Rooney’s turn in 2009/10.
Twice Younger Player of the Year, this season noticed Rooney chalk up a prolific total of 26 goals in 32 Premier League appearances – and 34 goals in all competitions, the joint most provocative of his career.
34. Gareth Bale (2010/11, 2012/13)
Gareth Bale used to be converted from a elephantine-wait on to a winger by Harry Redknapp for the duration of the 2009/10 season – and he never appeared wait on, playing a group of blistering campaigns at the discontinue of his Tottenham career.
He won simply won trophy with Spurs – the 2007/08 League Cup – however his electric particular person efforts earned him two PFA Player of the Year awards.
35. Robin van Persie (2011/12)
The 2d Dutch Arsenal player to find this award, Robin van Persie used to be honoured in his final Gunners campaign – and with appropriate aim.
Arsene Wenger’s side have been nicely off the hasten in the 2011/12 title trot, ending third and 19 aspects in the wait on of the two Manchester clubs – however RVP used to be fully on it, scoring 30 goals to find the Golden Boot, which he retained the following season at Man United.
36. Luis Suarez (2013/14)
One of the splendid strikers of all time in any league, Luis Suarez surely left his tag on the Premier League with 69 goals in three-and-a-half of seasons for Liverpool.
The Uruguayan surely bought his tooth sunk in to the division for the duration of his final campaign in England – which also noticed him named FWA Footballer of the Year – banging in 31 goals in 33 outings as Brendan Rodgers’ Reds dramatically blew the title.
37. Eden Hazard (2014/15)
An undisputed Chelsea memoir, Eden Hazard used to be instrumental in the Blues’ 2014/15 Premier League title victory – his 2d of two with the membership.
The Belgian magician registered 24 league aim contributions that campaign (14 goals, 10 assists), also serving to his side snatch the League Cup.
38. Riyad Mahrez (2015/16)
Leicester Metropolis wrote one of the substantial sporting underdog stories with their 2015/16 Premier League title find – and Riyad Mahrez used to be at the heart of their success.
The Algeria considerable person grew to develop into the first African player to find PFA Player of the Year, at the discontinue of a season for the duration of which he fashioned a particularly effective partnership with that campaign’s FWA Footballer of the Year recipient, Jamie Vardy.
39. N’Golo Kante (2016/17)
Another integral member of Leicester’s in opposition to-all-odds Premier League triumph, N’Golo Kante claimed a surely-earned particular person accolade as he used to be topped champion again the very next season with Chelsea.
One of a make a selection out personnel of players to have won the Premier League title with extra than one clubs, Kante also picked up the 2016/17 FWA award.
40. Mo Salah (2017/18, 2021/22)
Few players have enjoyed as real a Premier League debut season as Mo Salah, who justified Liverpool’s then membership-file £36.5m switch fee and then some by banging in 32 goals – then a file for a 38-sport campaign.
The Reds’ Egyptian King – who has won every trophy on offer with the membership – did the Golden Boot, PFA and FWA awards treble again in 2021/22
41. Virgil van Dijk (2018/19)
The first defender to be voted PFA Player of the Year in 14 years, Virgil van Dijk’s first elephantine season as a Liverpool player used to be one to remember.
Van Dijk helped Jurgen Klopp’s side file the Premier League’s most provocative defensive file that season (22 goals conceded) – and, while the Reds had to resolve for 2d situation in the wait on of Manchester Metropolis, Champions League glory used to be a pleasing appropriate comfort for VVD and co!
42. Kevin De Bruyne (2019/20, 2020/21)
From the Netherlands to Belgium, the 2019/20 PFA Player of the Year used to be Kevin De Bruyne – who, despite Man Metropolis shedding out to Liverpool in the title trot, equalled Thierry Henry’s file of 20 assists in a Premier League season.
The sensational playmaker retained the award the following campaign – this time as a champion with Pep Guardiola’s side – despite wretchedness limiting him to most provocative 25 league appearances.
43. Erling Haaland (2022/23)
Erling Haaland’s first season in the Premier League used to be surely the most provocative the competitors has ever considered: the Norwegian aim-bot smashed the single-campaign goals file, hanging 36 times in 35 games as Metropolis claimed their third straight title.
Haaland bagged 52 goals in fifty three outings in all competitions, also scooping FWA Footballer of the Year.
