Phil Foden, Khadija Shaw Win Football Writers’ Players Award

Phil Foden won the Footballer of the Year award from the English Football Writers’ Association.
Khadija Shaw, also from Manchester City, secured the women’s award.
Both players credited their teammates for their achievements.

Eko Hot Blog reports that Phil Foden of Manchester City was named Footballer of the Year by the English Football Writers’ Association on Friday, while Khadija Shaw from the same club secured the women’s award.

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Foden, the attacking midfielder from England, now joins a prestigious list of renowned names such as Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, George Best, and Kenny Dalglish.

Foden becomes the third Manchester City player in the last four years to claim football’s oldest individual accolade, following Ruben Dias in 2021 and Erling Haaland in the previous year.

At 23 years old, Foden secured 42 percent of the votes, surpassing competition from Arsenal’s Declan Rice and his teammate Rodri.

Both finished third in a ballot among the FWA’s nearly 900-strong membership.

Manchester City winger, Phil Foden

Phil Foden has scored 24 goals this season as Pep Guardiola’s City chase a Premier League and FA Cup double.

“Being named the Football Writers’ Association footballer of the year is a huge honour,” said Foden.

“I’m very, very happy to receive this award but I could not have done it without the help of my teammates.”

Guardiola praised his player but said he could get even better.

“The impact in the final third is really good, the work ethic. Every year, due to the amount of games he’s playing,

“And the minutes he’s playing, he’s more mature and understands the game but he has to continue. He’s still young,” he said.

“Depends on him, simple as that,” Guardiola added. “I promise you, it depends on him.

Mentality, want more, do it again, do it again, be better in this department.

Manchester City Female player, Khadija Shaw

“I will live 24 hours for my game and my profession. It depends on him, like all the players.”

Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, who has scored 21 goals in the Women’s Super League, pipped Chelsea’s Lauren James, with the two taking a combined 80 per cent of the votes.

Jamaican international Shaw will miss City’s final two games of the Women’s Super League season with a foot injury.

However, is almost certain to finish as the top-scorer in the WSL as Gareth Taylor’s side close in on the title.