Manchester City’s star striker, Erling Braut Haaland, has been crowned the 2023 Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year. The Norwegian international received an overwhelming 82% of the votes from approximately 800 members, marking the largest margin since the inception of the Premier League in 1992-93.
Finishing in second and third place respectively were Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, while Haaland’s teammate Kevin De Bruyne secured fourth place and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford rounded off the top five. Additionally, 14 other players received votes for this prestigious annual award.
Haaland has enjoyed a remarkable debut season at Manchester City since joining from Borussia Dortmund last summer, leaving an indelible mark on football history by breaking multiple goalscoring records. Earlier this season, the 22-year-old surpassed the 94-year-old record set by Tommy Johnson in 1928-29 to become City’s all-time leading scorer in a single season, netting an impressive 38 goals.
Furthermore, Haaland made Premier League history by becoming the first player to score 35 goals in a single season, surpassing the previous record held jointly by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer. The Norwegian forward has excelled in all competitions, amassing a staggering 51 goals in just 47 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side, including 12 goals in nine Champions League matches. He has played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s pursuit of a treble, with the team currently sitting atop the Premier League table, competing in the Champions League semi-finals, and set to face Manchester United in the FA Cup final next month.
Haaland’s recognition as the FWA Footballer of the Year adds him to an exclusive list of Manchester City players who have received this accolade in recent years, following Raheem Sterling in 2019 and Ruben Dias in 2021. Moreover, he becomes only the fourth player to win the award in their debut season in England, joining the likes of Ruben Dias, Gianfranco Zola (1997), and Jurgen Klinsmann (1995).
Expressing his gratitude, Haaland said, “To win the Football Writers’ Award in my first season in English football is an honor. I strive every day to be the best I can be, and this recognition means a lot to me. I am grateful to my incredible teammates who provide me with scoring opportunities and to the top professionals at City, including Pep and the support staff. I want to extend my thanks to everyone who voted for me. It’s a true honor to receive this award. My focus now is to finish the season strongly and help City win trophies.”
In the women’s category, Chelsea forward Sam Kerr clinched the FWA Footballer of the Year award for the second consecutive year, securing twice as many votes as Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly, who finished in second place.
Both Haaland and Kerr will be presented with their awards on May 25 at the Landmark Hotel London during a special Footballer of the Year dinner, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the award, which was first won by Sir Stanley Matthews in 1948.
