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FWA Footballer of the Year

Updated: Wikipedia source

FWA Footballer of the Year

The Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year (often called the FWA Footballer of the Year, or in England simply the Footballer of the Year) is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football. The award has been presented since the 1947–48 season, with the inaugural winner being Blackpool winger Stanley Matthews. The latest winner of the award as of 2025–26 is Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United. Nine players have won the award on more than one occasion, with Thierry Henry and Mohamed Salah having won the award on the most occasions, with three wins each. The winner is selected by a vote amongst the members of the Football Writers' Association (FWA), which comprises around 400 football journalists based throughout England. The award was instigated at the suggestion of Charles Buchan, a former professional footballer turned journalist and one of the Association's founders.

Infobox

Sport
Association football
Competition
All levels of English football
Country
England and Wales
Presented by
FWA
First award
1947–48
Editions
77
First winner
Stanley Matthews
Most wins
Mohamed Salah Thierry Henry (3 awards each)
Most recent
Bruno Fernandes
Website
footballwriters /awards

Tables

Winners of the FWA Footballer of the Year · Winners
1947–48
1947–48
Year
1947–48
Nat.
Player
Stanley Matthews
Club
Blackpool
1948–49
1948–49
Year
1948–49
Nat.
Player
Johnny Carey
Club
Manchester United
1949–50
1949–50
Year
1949–50
Nat.
Player
Joe Mercer
Club
Arsenal
1950–51
1950–51
Year
1950–51
Nat.
Player
Harry Johnston
Club
Blackpool
1951–52
1951–52
Year
1951–52
Nat.
Player
Billy Wright
Club
Wolverhampton Wanderers
1952–53
1952–53
Year
1952–53
Nat.
Player
Nat Lofthouse
Club
Bolton Wanderers
1953–54
1953–54
Year
1953–54
Nat.
Player
Tom Finney
Club
Preston North End
1954–55
1954–55
Year
1954–55
Nat.
Player
Don Revie
Club
Manchester City
1955–56
1955–56
Year
1955–56
Nat.
Player
Bert Trautmann
Club
Manchester City
1956–57
1956–57
Year
1956–57
Nat.
Player
Tom Finney (2)
Club
Preston North End
1957–58
1957–58
Year
1957–58
Nat.
Player
Danny Blanchflower
Club
Tottenham Hotspur
1958–59
1958–59
Year
1958–59
Nat.
Player
Syd Owen
Club
Luton Town
1959–60
1959–60
Year
1959–60
Nat.
Player
Bill Slater
Club
Wolverhampton Wanderers
1960–61
1960–61
Year
1960–61
Nat.
Player
Danny Blanchflower (2)
Club
Tottenham Hotspur
1961–62
1961–62
Year
1961–62
Nat.
Player
Jimmy Adamson
Club
Burnley
1962–63
1962–63
Year
1962–63
Nat.
Player
Stanley Matthews (2)
Club
Stoke City
1963–64
1963–64
Year
1963–64
Nat.
Player
Bobby Moore
Club
West Ham United
1964–65
1964–65
Year
1964–65
Nat.
Player
Bobby Collins
Club
Leeds United
1965–66
1965–66
Year
1965–66
Nat.
Player
Bobby Charlton
Club
Manchester United
1966–67
1966–67
Year
1966–67
Nat.
Player
Jack Charlton
Club
Leeds United
1967–68
1967–68
Year
1967–68
Nat.
Player
George Best
Club
Manchester United
1968–69
1968–69
Year
1968–69
Nat.
Player
Tony Book Dave Mackay
Club
Manchester City Derby County
1969–70
1969–70
Year
1969–70
Nat.
Player
Billy Bremner
Club
Leeds United
1970–71
1970–71
Year
1970–71
Nat.
Player
Frank McLintock
Club
Arsenal
1971–72
1971–72
Year
1971–72
Nat.
Player
Gordon Banks
Club
Stoke City
1972–73
1972–73
Year
1972–73
Nat.
Player
Pat Jennings
Club
Tottenham Hotspur
1973–74
1973–74
Year
1973–74
Nat.
Player
Ian Callaghan
Club
Liverpool
1974–75
1974–75
Year
1974–75
Nat.
Player
Alan Mullery
Club
Fulham
1975–76
1975–76
Year
1975–76
Nat.
Player
Kevin Keegan
Club
Liverpool
1976–77
1976–77
Year
1976–77
Nat.
Player
Emlyn Hughes
Club
Liverpool
1977–78
1977–78
Year
1977–78
Nat.
Player
Kenny Burns
Club
Nottingham Forest
1978–79
1978–79
Year
1978–79
Nat.
Player
Kenny Dalglish
Club
Liverpool
1979–80
1979–80
Year
1979–80
Nat.
Player
Terry McDermott
Club
Liverpool
Also won
PPY
1980–81
1980–81
Year
1980–81
Nat.
Player
Frans Thijssen
Club
Ipswich Town
1981–82
1981–82
Year
1981–82
Nat.
Player
Steve Perryman
Club
Tottenham Hotspur
1982–83
1982–83
Year
1982–83
Nat.
Player
Kenny Dalglish (2)
Club
Liverpool
Also won
PPY
1983–84
1983–84
Year
1983–84
Nat.
Player
Ian Rush
Club
Liverpool
Also won
PPY
1984–85
1984–85
Year
1984–85
Nat.
Player
Neville Southall
Club
Everton
1985–86
1985–86
Year
1985–86
Nat.
Player
Gary Lineker
Club
Everton
Also won
PPY
1986–87
1986–87
Year
1986–87
Nat.
Player
Clive Allen
Club
Tottenham Hotspur
Also won
PPY
1987–88
1987–88
Year
1987–88
Nat.
Player
John Barnes
Club
Liverpool
Also won
PPY
1988–89
1988–89
Year
1988–89
Nat.
Player
Steve Nicol
Club
Liverpool
1989–90
1989–90
Year
1989–90
Nat.
Player
John Barnes (2)
Club
Liverpool
1990–91
1990–91
Year
1990–91
Nat.
Player
Gordon Strachan
Club
Leeds United
1991–92
1991–92
Year
1991–92
Nat.
Player
Gary Lineker (2)
Club
Tottenham Hotspur
1992–93
1992–93
Year
1992–93
Nat.
Player
Chris Waddle
Club
Sheffield Wednesday
1993–94
1993–94
Year
1993–94
Nat.
Player
Alan Shearer
Club
Blackburn Rovers
1994–95
1994–95
Year
1994–95
Nat.
Player
Jürgen Klinsmann
Club
Tottenham Hotspur
1995–96
1995–96
Year
1995–96
Nat.
Player
Eric Cantona
Club
Manchester United
1996–97
1996–97
Year
1996–97
Nat.
Player
Gianfranco Zola
Club
Chelsea
1997–98
1997–98
Year
1997–98
Nat.
Player
Dennis Bergkamp
Club
Arsenal
Also won
PPY
1998–99
1998–99
Year
1998–99
Nat.
Player
David Ginola
Club
Tottenham Hotspur
Also won
PPY
1999–2000
1999–2000
Year
1999–2000
Nat.
Player
Roy Keane
Club
Manchester United
Also won
PPY
2000–01
2000–01
Year
2000–01
Nat.
Player
Teddy Sheringham
Club
Manchester United
Also won
PPY
2001–02
2001–02
Year
2001–02
Nat.
Player
Robert Pires
Club
Arsenal
2002–03
2002–03
Year
2002–03
Nat.
Player
Thierry Henry
Club
Arsenal
Also won
PPY, FPY
2003–04
2003–04
Year
2003–04
Nat.
Player
Thierry Henry (2)
Club
Arsenal
Also won
PPY, FPY, PPS
2004–05
2004–05
Year
2004–05
Nat.
Player
Frank Lampard
Club
Chelsea
Also won
FPY, PPS
2005–06
2005–06
Year
2005–06
Nat.
Player
Thierry Henry (3)
Club
Arsenal
Also won
PPS
2006–07
2006–07
Year
2006–07
Nat.
Player
Cristiano Ronaldo
Club
Manchester United
Also won
PPY, FPY, YPY, PPS
2007–08
2007–08
Year
2007–08
Nat.
Player
Cristiano Ronaldo (2)
Club
Manchester United
Also won
PPY, FPY, PPS
2008–09
2008–09
Year
2008–09
Nat.
Player
Steven Gerrard
Club
Liverpool
Also won
FPY
2009–10
2009–10
Year
2009–10
Nat.
Player
Wayne Rooney
Club
Manchester United
Also won
PPY, FPY, PPS
2010–11
2010–11
Year
2010–11
Nat.
Player
Scott Parker
Club
West Ham United
2011–12
2011–12
Year
2011–12
Nat.
Player
Robin van Persie
Club
Arsenal
Also won
PPY, FPY
2012–13
2012–13
Year
2012–13
Nat.
Player
Gareth Bale
Club
Tottenham Hotspur
Also won
PPY, YPY, PPS
2013–14
2013–14
Year
2013–14
Nat.
Player
Luis Suárez
Club
Liverpool
Also won
PPY, FPY, PPS, FSA
2014–15
2014–15
Year
2014–15
Nat.
Player
Eden Hazard
Club
Chelsea
Also won
PPY, PPS
2015–16
2015–16
Year
2015–16
Nat.
Player
Jamie Vardy
Club
Leicester City
Also won
PPS
2016–17
2016–17
Year
2016–17
Nat.
Player
N'Golo Kanté
Club
Chelsea
Also won
PPY, PPS
2017–18
2017–18
Year
2017–18
Nat.
Player
Mohamed Salah
Club
Liverpool
Also won
PPY, FPY, PPS, FSA
2018–19
2018–19
Year
2018–19
Nat.
Player
Raheem Sterling
Club
Manchester City
Also won
YPY
2019–20
2019–20
Year
2019–20
Nat.
Player
Jordan Henderson
Club
Liverpool
2020–21
2020–21
Year
2020–21
Nat.
Player
Rúben Dias
Club
Manchester City
Also won
PPS
2021–22
2021–22
Year
2021–22
Nat.
Player
Mohamed Salah (2)
Club
Liverpool
Also won
PPY, FPY
2022–23
2022–23
Year
2022–23
Nat.
Player
Erling Haaland
Club
Manchester City
Also won
PPY, PPS, PYPS
2023–24
2023–24
Year
2023–24
Nat.
Player
Phil Foden
Club
Manchester City
Also won
PPY, PPS
2024–25
2024–25
Year
2024–25
Nat.
Player
Mohamed Salah (3)
Club
Liverpool
Also won
PPY, PPS
2025–26
2025–26
Year
2025–26
Nat.
Player
Bruno Fernandes
Club
Manchester United
Year
Nat.
Player
Club
Also won
Notes
1947–48
Stanley Matthews
Blackpool
1948–49
Johnny Carey
Manchester United
1949–50
Joe Mercer
Arsenal
1950–51
Harry Johnston
Blackpool
1951–52
Billy Wright
Wolverhampton Wanderers
1952–53
Nat Lofthouse
Bolton Wanderers
1953–54
Tom Finney
Preston North End
1954–55
Don Revie
Manchester City
1955–56
Bert Trautmann
Manchester City
1956–57
Tom Finney (2)
Preston North End
1957–58
Danny Blanchflower
Tottenham Hotspur
1958–59
Syd Owen
Luton Town
1959–60
Bill Slater
Wolverhampton Wanderers
1960–61
Danny Blanchflower (2)
Tottenham Hotspur
1961–62
Jimmy Adamson
Burnley
1962–63
Stanley Matthews (2)
Stoke City
1963–64
Bobby Moore
West Ham United
1964–65
Bobby Collins
Leeds United
1965–66
Bobby Charlton
Manchester United
1966–67
Jack Charlton
Leeds United
1967–68
George Best
Manchester United
1968–69
Tony Book Dave Mackay
Manchester City Derby County
1969–70
Billy Bremner
Leeds United
1970–71
Frank McLintock
Arsenal
1971–72
Gordon Banks
Stoke City
1972–73
Pat Jennings
Tottenham Hotspur
1973–74
Ian Callaghan
Liverpool
1974–75
Alan Mullery
Fulham
1975–76
Kevin Keegan
Liverpool
1976–77
Emlyn Hughes
Liverpool
1977–78
Kenny Burns
Nottingham Forest
1978–79
Kenny Dalglish
Liverpool
1979–80
Terry McDermott
Liverpool
PPY
1980–81
Frans Thijssen
Ipswich Town
1981–82
Steve Perryman
Tottenham Hotspur
1982–83
Kenny Dalglish (2)
Liverpool
PPY
1983–84
Ian Rush
Liverpool
PPY
1984–85
Neville Southall
Everton
1985–86
Gary Lineker
Everton
PPY
1986–87
Clive Allen
Tottenham Hotspur
PPY
1987–88
John Barnes
Liverpool
PPY
1988–89
Steve Nicol
Liverpool
1989–90
John Barnes (2)
Liverpool
1990–91
Gordon Strachan
Leeds United
1991–92
Gary Lineker (2)
Tottenham Hotspur
1992–93
Chris Waddle
Sheffield Wednesday
1993–94
Alan Shearer
Blackburn Rovers
1994–95
Jürgen Klinsmann
Tottenham Hotspur
1995–96
Eric Cantona
Manchester United
Winners of the FWA Footballer of the Year by country · Breakdown of winners › By country
England
England
Country
England
Number of wins
39
Winning years
1947–48, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69‡, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2015–16, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2023-24
Scotland
Scotland
Country
Scotland
Number of wins
9
Winning years
1964–65, 1968–69‡, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1982–83, 1988–89, 1990–91
France
France
Country
France
Number of wins
7
Winning years
1995–96, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2016–17
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Number of wins
4
Winning years
1957–58, 1960–61, 1967–68, 1972–73
Portugal
Portugal
Country
Portugal
Number of wins
4
Winning years
2006–07, 2007–08, 2020–21, 2025–26
Netherlands
Netherlands
Country
Netherlands
Number of wins
3
Winning years
1980–81, 1997–98, 2011–12
Wales
Wales
Country
Wales
Number of wins
3
Winning years
1983–84, 1984–85, 2012–13
Egypt
Egypt
Country
Egypt
Number of wins
3
Winning years
2017–18, 2021–22, 2024–25
West Germany / Germany
West Germany / Germany
Country
West Germany / Germany
Number of wins
2
Winning years
1955–56, 1994–95
Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Country
Republic of Ireland
Number of wins
2
Winning years
1948–49, 1999–2000
Italy
Italy
Country
Italy
Number of wins
1
Winning years
1996–97
Uruguay
Uruguay
Country
Uruguay
Number of wins
1
Winning years
2013–14
Belgium
Belgium
Country
Belgium
Number of wins
1
Winning years
2014–15
Norway
Norway
Country
Norway
Number of wins
1
Winning years
2022–23
Country
Number of wins
Winning years
England
39
1947–48, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69‡, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2015–16, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2023-24
Scotland
9
1964–65, 1968–69‡, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1982–83, 1988–89, 1990–91
France
7
1995–96, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2016–17
Northern Ireland
4
1957–58, 1960–61, 1967–68, 1972–73
Portugal
4
2006–07, 2007–08, 2020–21, 2025–26
Netherlands
3
1980–81, 1997–98, 2011–12
Wales
3
1983–84, 1984–85, 2012–13
Egypt
3
2017–18, 2021–22, 2024–25
West Germany / Germany
2
1955–56, 1994–95
Republic of Ireland
2
1948–49, 1999–2000
Italy
1
1996–97
Uruguay
1
2013–14
Belgium
1
2014–15
Norway
1
2022–23
Winners of the FWA Footballer of the Year by club · Breakdown of winners › Winners by club
Liverpool
Liverpool
Club
Liverpool
Number of wins
16
Winning years
1973–74, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2024–25
Manchester United
Manchester United
Club
Manchester United
Number of wins
10
Winning years
1948–49, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1995–96, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2025–26
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur
Club
Tottenham Hotspur
Number of wins
9
Winning years
1957–58, 1960–61, 1972–73, 1981–82, 1986–87, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2012–13
Arsenal
Arsenal
Club
Arsenal
Number of wins
8
Winning years
1949–50, 1970–71, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2011–12
Manchester City
Manchester City
Club
Manchester City
Number of wins
7
Winning years
1954–55, 1955–56, 1968–69‡, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023-24
Leeds United
Leeds United
Club
Leeds United
Number of wins
4
Winning years
1964–65, 1966–67, 1969–70, 1990–91
Chelsea
Chelsea
Club
Chelsea
Number of wins
4
Winning years
1996–97, 2004–05, 2014–15, 2016–17
Everton
Everton
Club
Everton
Number of wins
2
Winning years
1984–85, 1985–86
Stoke City
Stoke City
Club
Stoke City
Number of wins
2
Winning years
1962–63, 1971–72
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Club
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Number of wins
2
Winning years
1951–52, 1959–60
Preston North End
Preston North End
Club
Preston North End
Number of wins
2
Winning years
1953–54, 1956–57
Blackpool
Blackpool
Club
Blackpool
Number of wins
2
Winning years
1947–48, 1950–51
West Ham United
West Ham United
Club
West Ham United
Number of wins
2
Winning years
1963–64, 2010–11
Leicester City
Leicester City
Club
Leicester City
Number of wins
1
Winning years
2015–16
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers
Club
Blackburn Rovers
Number of wins
1
Winning years
1993–94
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday
Club
Sheffield Wednesday
Number of wins
1
Winning years
1992–93
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town
Club
Ipswich Town
Number of wins
1
Winning years
1980–81
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest
Club
Nottingham Forest
Number of wins
1
Winning years
1977–78
Fulham
Fulham
Club
Fulham
Number of wins
1
Winning years
1974–75
Derby County
Derby County
Club
Derby County
Number of wins
1
Winning years
1968–69‡
Burnley
Burnley
Club
Burnley
Number of wins
1
Winning years
1961–62
Luton Town
Luton Town
Club
Luton Town
Number of wins
1
Winning years
1958–59
Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers
Club
Bolton Wanderers
Number of wins
1
Winning years
1952–53
Club
Number of wins
Winning years
Liverpool
16
1973–74, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2024–25
Manchester United
10
1948–49, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1995–96, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2025–26
Tottenham Hotspur
9
1957–58, 1960–61, 1972–73, 1981–82, 1986–87, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2012–13
Arsenal
8
1949–50, 1970–71, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2011–12
Manchester City
7
1954–55, 1955–56, 1968–69‡, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023-24
Leeds United
4
1964–65, 1966–67, 1969–70, 1990–91
Chelsea
4
1996–97, 2004–05, 2014–15, 2016–17
Everton
2
1984–85, 1985–86
Stoke City
2
1962–63, 1971–72
Wolverhampton Wanderers
2
1951–52, 1959–60
Preston North End
2
1953–54, 1956–57
Blackpool
2
1947–48, 1950–51
West Ham United
2
1963–64, 2010–11
Leicester City
1
2015–16
Blackburn Rovers
1
1993–94
Sheffield Wednesday
1
1992–93
Ipswich Town
1
1980–81
Nottingham Forest
1
1977–78
Fulham
1
1974–75
Derby County
1
1968–69‡
Burnley
1
1961–62
Luton Town
1
1958–59
Bolton Wanderers
1
1952–53
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