Manchester City’s Phil Foden And Khadija Shaw Win Fwa Footballer Of The Year Awards

Manchester City, Phil Foden, and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw have won the prestigious Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year awards for the 2023/24 season. This achievement makes it the second time in the club’s history that both the men’s and women’s awards have been secured by City players, with Raheem Sterling and Nikita Parris achieving this feat back in 2019.

Phil Foden, at just 23 years old, emerged victorious in the men’s category, accumulating an impressive 42 percent of the members’ votes. His exceptional performances throughout the season, which saw him net 16 Premier League goals and provide seven assists, alongside five crucial goals in the Champions League and two in the FA Cup, solidified his position as a standout player.

Foden’s contributions have been pivotal in Manchester City’s pursuit of a fifth consecutive Premier League title, with the team currently hot behind Arsenal with a game in hand. Additionally, the upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester United on May 25 presents another opportunity for Foden to display his talent on a grand stage.

The voting results placed Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Foden’s teammate Rodri in second and third place respectively, highlighting the high competition Foden faced in securing this prestigious accolade. Notable mentions in the top six included Martin Odegaard, Ollie Watkins, and Cole Palmer, underscoring the wealth of talent in the Premier League.

On the women’s front, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw made history by becoming the first Man City player since Nikita Parris in 2019 to claim the Footballer of the Year award. Shaw’s remarkable tally of 21 goals and three assists in just 18 Women’s Super League (WSL) appearances moved City to the brink of their first league title since 2016. Despite her exceptional form, Shaw’s season was cut short due to a foot injury sustained in a commanding 5-0 victory over West Ham, sidelining her for the final three games.

Shaw’s dominance in the voting, with nearly 80 percent of the votes in her favor, showed her impact and influence on the women’s game. Chelsea’s Lauren James trailed in second place, with City’s Alex Greenwood securing the third spot. The top six were Yui Hasegawa, Elisabeth Terland, and Khiara Keating, highlighting the depth of talent in the women’s game.