England and Manchester City forward Phil Foden has landed the prestigious prize
Manchester City star Phil Foden has been named the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, with his City teammate Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw winning the Women's Footballer of the Year award.
Foden, 23, has earned the award while playing a crucial role in City's pursuit of a Premier League and FA Cup double. The England international has scored 22 goals and provided 10 assists.
City currently occupy second place in the Premier League standings, trailing Arsenal by a single point but with a game in hand. Pep Guardiola's team is set to face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on May 25.
"Being named the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year is a huge honor. I'm really, really happy to receive this award, but I know I couldn't have achieved it without the support of my teammates. We have a remarkable squad at City, and I'm privileged to be a part of it.
"I want to thank all my teammates, as well as Pep and the coaching staff, for their constant support and guidance. I strive to be the best I can be every day, and that's because of the environment Pep and my colleagues create, where everyone pushes each other to improve.
"I'm extremely proud to have won this award, but my focus now is on finishing the season as strongly as possible and helping City win more trophies."
Foden secured 42 percent of the vote to claim the award, ahead of Arsenal's Declan Rice in second place. Manchester City's Rodri took third, while Arsenal's Martin Odegaard came in fourth.
Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins finished fifth, with Chelsea's Cole Palmer rounding out the top six.
Manchester City had even more to celebrate, with Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw winning the Women's Footballer of the Year award for her role in City's push for the Women's Super League title. Shaw edged out Chelsea's Lauren James for the honor. Unfortunately, Shaw's season ended early due to a foot fracture, but she's still on track to be the WSL's top scorer, with Manchester City leading the league by six points.
"I am very proud and privileged to have received this award. To be recognized in this way is truly special," said Shaw. "I also want to thank all of my teammates, as they are the ones who create the opportunities for me to score goals, and I couldn't have achieved this without them.
"I owe a lot to Gareth, the rest of the coaching team, and everyone else here at City. It's an honor to be part of such a special group.
"Many thanks to everyone who voted for me and to my fellow nominees. Winning this award means a great deal to me. I hope we can finish the season on a high note and give everyone a reason to celebrate."
Foden and Shaw's victories mark Manchester City's repeat of their 2019 double, when Raheem Sterling and Nikita Parris were both honored by the Football Writers' Association.
