Manchester City's Phil Foden was named the British Football Writers' Association's Player of the Year on Friday, while the club's Khadijah Shaw won the women's award.
England attacking midfielder Foden joins a roll call of notable names including Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, George Best and Kenny Dalglish.
Foden becomes the third City player to win football's oldest individual award in the past four years, following Ruben Dias in 2021 and Erling Haaland last year.
Foden, 23, received 42% of the vote, beating competition from Arsenal's Declan Rice and teammate Rodri to finish third in the voting of around 900 FWA members.
Foden has scored 24 goals this season as Josep Guardiola's City chase a Premier League and FA Cup double.
“It's a great honor to be named Football Writers' Association Player of the Year,” Foden said. “I am very happy to receive this award, but I could not have done it without the help of my teammates.”
Guardiola praised the player but said he could be better.
“His impact in the final third was really good and his work ethic was great,” he said. “Every year he's more mature and understands the game because of the number of games he plays and the minutes he plays, but he has to keep going. He's still young.”
Guardiola added: “It's up to him, but it's easy.” “I promise you, it's up to him. Mentally, I want to do more, I want to do it again, I want to do it again, I want to be better in this division, I'm going to live for my game and my profession 24 hours a day. Other players It's up to him, just like the players. ”
Khadijah 'Bunny' Shaw, who scored 21 goals in the Women's Super League, edged out Chelsea's Lauren James, with the pair receiving a combined 80% of the votes.
Jamaican international Shaw will miss City's final two games of the Women's Super League season with a foot injury but is almost certain to finish as the WSL's top scorer as Gareth Taylor's side edge closer to the title.
Shaw, 27, said: “I am extremely proud and honored to receive this award. It is a special honor to be recognized in this way.”
“I would also like to thank all my teammates. They gave me the chance to score goals and I couldn't have won this award without them.”
jdg-jw/ea
