Every Legend Who Claimed Football's Most Prestigious Player Honor: Complete PFA Players' Player of the Year Champions
While France Football's Ballon d'Or and FIFA's The Best award capture most attention in individual recognition discussions, domestic accolades often receive less fanfare.
However, few honors carry more distinction than England's PFA annual celebration. The premier award, Players' Player of the Year, has been presented over 50 times to numerous legends who have graced English football pitches.
Many believe peer recognition holds significantly more value than journalistic or supporter acknowledgment. "The most significant personal recognition available in football," Teddy Sheringham remarked in 2001, while John Terry called his 2005 victory "the highest honor possible".
Phil Foden shared comparable feelings upon receiving the accolade in 2024, demonstrating that current players maintain the same respect for this award as previous generations.
Below is the complete list of PFA Players' Player of the Year recipients.
Complete List of PFA Players' Player of the Year Recipients
Season | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
1973–74 | Norman Hunter | Leeds United |
1974–75 | Colin Todd | Derby County |
1975–76 | Pat Jennings | Tottenham Hotspur |
1976–77 | Andy Gray | Aston Villa |
1977–78 | Peter Shilton | Nottingham Forest |
1978–79 | Liam Brady | Arsenal |
1979–80 | Terry McDermott | Liverpool |
1980–81 | John Wark | Ipswich Town |
1981–82 | Kevin Keegan | Southampton |
1982–83 | Kenny Dalglish | Liverpool |
1983–84 | Ian Rush | Liverpool |
1984–85 | Peter Reid | Everton |
1985–86 | Gary Lineker | Everton |
1986–87 | Clive Allen | Tottenham Hotspur |
1987–88 | John Barnes | Liverpool |
1988–89 | Mark Hughes | Manchester United |
1989–90 | David Platt | Aston Villa |
1990–91 | Mark Hughes | Manchester United |
1991–92 | Gary Pallister | Manchester United |
1992–93 | Paul McGrath | Aston Villa |
1993–94 | Eric Cantona | Manchester United |
1994–95 | Alan Shearer | Blackburn Rovers |
1995–96 | Les Ferdinand | Newcastle United |
1996–97 | Alan Shearer | Newcastle United |
1997–98 | Dennis Bergkamp | Arsenal |
1998–99 | David Ginola | Tottenham Hotspur |
1999–00 | Roy Keane | Manchester United |
2000–01 | Teddy Sheringham | Manchester United |
2001–02 | Ruud van Nistelrooy | Manchester United |
2002–03 | Thierry Henry | Arsenal |
2003–04 | Thierry Henry | Arsenal |
2004–05 | John Terry | Chelsea |
2005–06 | Steven Gerrard | Liverpool |
2006–07 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United |
2007–08 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United |
2008–09 | Ryan Giggs | Manchester United |
2009–10 | Wayne Rooney | Manchester United |
2010–11 | Gareth Bale | Tottenham Hotspur |
2011–12 | Robin van Persie | Arsenal |
2012–13 | Gareth Bale | Tottenham Hotspur |
2013–14 | Luis Suárez | Liverpool |
2014–15 | Eden Hazard | Chelsea |
2015–16 | Riyad Mahrez | Leicester City |
2016–17 | N'Golo Kanté | Chelsea |
2017–18 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool |
2018–19 | Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool |
2019–20 | Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City |
2020–21 | Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City |
2021–22 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool |
2022–23 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City |
2023–24 | Phil Foden | Manchester City |
A total of 44 different players have claimed the PFA Players' Player of the Year trophy since 1974, when Leeds United defender Norman Hunter first received this recognition.
Andy Gray, the fourth recipient, became the initial player among three to secure both Players' Player and Young Player awards in a single campaign. Cristiano Ronaldo (2006–07) and Gareth Bale (2012–13) later matched this accomplishment.
Irish midfielder Liam Brady broke new ground as the first non-British winner in 1979, while compatriot Paul McGrath claimed the honor following the Premier League's debut season in 1992–93. Eric Cantona made history the subsequent year as the first recipient from beyond Britain or Ireland.
Growing international presence after the Premier League's launch has led to overseas players increasingly claiming the PFA prize, with 22 of 32 awards since 1993 going to non-British players. Foden's 2024 triumph marked the first English victory since Wayne Rooney's success in 2010.
Modern Premier League stars Luis Suárez, Eden Hazard, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland have all claimed victories since 2014.
Multiple PFA Players' Player of the Year Winners
Achieving multiple PFA Players' Player of the Year victories has proven challenging, with diversity being favored. Just eight individuals have claimed the prize more than once, while Mohamed Salah stands positioned to become the first triple winner in 2025.
Mark Hughes, Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Ronaldo, Bale, De Bruyne and Salah have each secured two victories. Henry (2003 and 2004), Ronaldo (2007 and 2008) and De Bruyne (2020 and 2021) remain the sole players to claim back-to-back honors.
The accomplished Salah joins two other non-European winners, following the path established by Luis Suárez and Riyad Mahrez.
Manchester United leads with the most recipients, though all 11 victories occurred during Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure. They haven't celebrated a winner since Rooney in 2010. Liverpool is narrowing United's advantage through Van Dijk and Salah's recent successes, while Spurs and Arsenal each boast five winners.