LONDON: Manchester City’s Phil Foden was named footballer of the year by the English Football Writers’ Association on Friday, while the club’s Khadija Shaw won the women’s award.
England attacking midfielder Foden joins a list of famous names including Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, George Best and Kenny Dalglish.
Foden is the third City player to win football’s oldest individual award in the last four years, following Ruben Dias in 2021 and Erling Haaland last year.
Foden, 23, received 42 per cent of the votes, competing against Arsenal’s Declan Rice and his team-mate Rodri, who came third in the voting by the FWA’s almost 900-strong membership.
Foden has scored 24 goals this season as Pep Guardiola’s City chase a Premier League and FA Cup double.
“To be named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year is a huge honour,” Foden said. “I am very happy to receive this award but I could not have done it without the help of my colleagues.”
Guardiola praised his player but said he could be even better.
“The impact in the final third is really good, the work ethic,” he said. “Every year, because of the number of games he plays, the number of minutes he plays, he gets more mature and he understands the game but he has to continue. He is still young.”
“It depends on him, it’s very simple,” Guardiola said. “I promise you, it depends on him. The mentality, want more, do it again, do it again, get better in this department, I will live 24 hours a day for my game and my profession. It depends on him like all players.”
Khadijah “Bunny” Shaw, who has scored 21 goals in the Women’s Super League, edged out Chelsea’s Lauren James, with the two taking a combined 80 per cent of the votes.
Jamaica international Shaw will miss City’s final two matches of the Women’s Super League season with a foot injury but is almost certain to finish as top scorer in the WSL as Gareth Taylor’s side inch closer to the title.
Shaw, 27, said, “I feel very humbled and honored to receive this award and it is a special honor to be recognized in this way.”
“I also want to thank all my teammates. They give me chances to score goals and I wouldn’t have won this award without them.”