Footballer of the Year The Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year (often called the FWA Footballer of the Year, or 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, when the inaugural winner was Blackpool winger Stanley Matthews. Eight players have won the award on more than one occasion. 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.
Date Winner Club
1948 Stanley Matthews Blackpool FC
1949 Johnny Carey Manchester United FC
1950 Joe Mercer Arsenal FC
1951 Harry Johnston Blackpool FC
1952 Billy Wright Wolverhampton Wanderers
1953 Nat Lofthouse Bolton Wanderers FC
1954 Tom Finney Preston North End FC
1955 Don Revie Manchester City FC
1956 Bert Trautmann Manchester City FC
1957 Tom Finney Preston North End FC
1958 Danny Blanchflower Tottenham Hotspur FC
1959 Syd Owen Luton Town FC
1960 Bill Slater Wolverhampton Wanderers
1961 Danny Blanchflower Tottenham Hotspur FC
1962 Jimmy Adamson Burnley FC
1963 Stanley Matthews Stoke City FC
1964 Bobby Moore West Ham United FC
1965 Bobby Collins Leeds United AFC
1966 Bobby Charlton Manchester United FC
1967 Jackie Charlton Leeds United AFC
1968 George Best Manchester United FC
1969 Dave Mackay/ Tony Brook Derby County FC/Manchester City
1970 Billy Bremner Leeds United AFC
1971 Frank McLintock Arsenal FC
1972 Gordon Banks Stoke City FC
1973 Pat Jennings Tottenham Hotspur FC
1974 Ian Callaghan Liverpool FC
1975 Alan Mullery Fulham FC
1976 Kevin Keegan Liverpool FC
1977 Emlyn Hughes Liverpool FC
1978 Kenny Burns Nottingham Forest
1979 Kenny Dalglish Liverpool FC
1980 Terry McDermott Liverpool FC
1981 Frans Thijssen Ipswich Town FC
1982 Steve Perryman Tottenham Hotspur FC
1983 Kenny Dalglish Liverpool FC
1984 Ian Rush Liverpool FC
1985 Neville Southall Everton FC
1986 Gary Lineker Everton FC
1987 Clive Allen Tottenham Hotspur FC
1988 John Barnes Liverpool FC
1989 Steve Nicol Liverpool FC
1990 John Barnes Liverpool FC
1991 Gordon Strachan Leeds United AFC
1992 Gary Lineker Tottenham Hotspur
1993 Chris Waddle Sheffield Wednesday FC
1994 Alan Shearer Blackburn Rovers FC
1995 Jürgen Klinsmann Tottenham Hotspur FC
1996 Eric Cantona Manchester United FC
1997 Gianfranco Zola Chelsea FC
1998 Dennis Bergkamp Arsenal FC
1999 David Ginola Tottenham Hotspur FC
2000 Roy Keane Manchester United FC
2001 Teddy Sheringham Manchester United FC
2002 Robert Pires Arsenal FC
2003 Thierry Henry Arsenal FC
2004 Thierry Henry Arsenal FC
2005 Frank Lampard Chelsea FC
2006 Thierry Henry Arsenal FC
2007 Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United FC
2008 Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United FC
2009 Stephen Gerrard Liverpool FC
2010 Rayne Rooney Manchester United FC
2011 Scott Parker West Ham United FC
2012 Robin Van Persie Arsenal FC
2013 Gareth Bale Tottenham Hotspur FC
2014 Luis Suarez Liverpool FC
2015 Eden Hazard Chelsea FC
2016 Jeremy Vardy Leiciester City
2017 N’Golo Kante Chelsea FC
2018 Mohamed Salah Liverpool FC
2019 Raheem Sterling Manchester City
2020 Jordan Henderson Liverpool FC
2021 Ruben Dias Manchester City
2022 Raheem Sterling Liverpool FC
