Erling Haaland has clinched the Men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, earning recognition from fellow professionals for his extraordinary debut season. The Norwegian striker’s remarkable feat of scoring 52 goals in the previous season played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s triumphant treble. The prestigious award was presented to Haaland during a ceremony held at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester.
Haaland’s performance outshone competition from other prominent players, including Harry Kane, who secured the second-highest goal tally in the Premier League, and City teammates Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones. Also contending for the award were Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Impressively, Haaland contributed 36 goals to his debut Premier League season, rewriting history by surpassing the long-standing records set by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer for the most goals scored in a single season. These records, previously set during the 1993-94 and 1994-95 campaigns, were achieved when the league comprised 42 matches compared to the current 38. Furthermore, Haaland claimed the title of top scorer in the Champions League, netting an impressive 12 goals. His contributions were instrumental in Manchester City’s first-ever Champions League victory. The team’s success extended to the FA Cup, where they secured a treble—a feat only achieved once before in English football.
At the age of 22, Haaland’s impressive achievements also earned him a nomination for the Men’s PFA Players’ Young Player of the Year award, though the honor went to Bukayo Saka. Both players were included in the Premier League Team of the Year, an elite roster featuring talents like Odegaard, Kane, and De Bruyne.
Erling Haaland’s recognition as the Men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year further solidifies his status as one of football’s rising stars and cements his place in the sport’s history for his exceptional contributions during his debut season with Manchester City.
