Pfa Awards 2023: Haaland, Saka, Akpom, Others Shine

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly were named as the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in the men’s and women’s categories respectively, while Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Chelsea’s Lauren James won the PFA Young Player of the Year awards.

On August 29, 2023, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) presented the winners of its annual awards, honoring the best players of the 2022–2023 season. The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Awards, which honor the top players in each league and are decided by the players themselves, are a major event in the footballing calendar. The 50th annual PFA Awards were presented at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester. That night, the PFA Players' Player of the Year, PFA Young Player of the Year, and the PFA Teams of the Year were revealed for each league. In addition, the PFA awarded a footballer with their annual Merit Award. Listed below are the winners and other players left out:

Erling Haaland Wins PFA Player of the Year Award

Erling Haaland, a striker for Manchester City, has won the PFA Men's Players' Player of the Year award for 2022–23. Haaland had a fantastic first season at City, scoring 52 goals across all competitions. [caption id="attachment_8911" align="aligncenter" width="714"] Erling Haaland won the PFA Men's Players' Player of the Year award for 2022–23. Credit: thepfa.com[/caption] Haaland's efforts were important in City's triumphant season in which they won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League Treble. Erling Haaland scored an incredible 36 goals in just 35 Premier League appearances in his first season with Manchester City, earning him a spot in the PFA's Premier League Team of the Year for the first time in his career.

Arsenal Stars Dominate PFA Premier League Team of the Year

The PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the 2022/23 season included four Arsenal players. Bukayo Saka, who was also named PFA Young Player of the Year, is accompanied by teammates Gabriel Martinelli, Emile Smith Rowe, and Kieran Tierney in leading the way. [caption id="attachment_8914" align="aligncenter" width="629"] Saka wins the PFA Young Player of the Year award. | Credit: thepfa.com[/caption] The fact that four Gunners were selected reflects the team's successful season, which saw them advance to the Champions League quarterfinals and finish second in the Premier League. [caption id="attachment_8915" align="aligncenter" width="622"] From left to right: Martin Odegaard, Aaron Ramsdale, William Saliba, and Bukayo Saka are all part of the PFA Team of the Year. | Credit: @Arsenal. | Source: Instagram[/caption] Haaland was joined by four other Manchester City players, and Saka, who had 14 goals and 11 assists in the Gunners' ill-fated run to the title, was also honored with a spot on the team. Meanwhile, Harry Kane was voted into the XI despite his summer transfer to Bayern Munich. This was in recognition of his outstanding season in which he scored 30 league goals for Tottenham, tied for the highest in his career. England teammate Kieran Trippier, who also played for Newcastle and helped them qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2003/2004 season, was also part of the PFA Team of the Year. At right back, he joins fellow title winners John Stones and Ruben Dias in a City defense that tied for the best in the Premier League a year ago. William Saliba also completed the back four. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard earned a spot after scoring 15 goals, and he was joined by Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri in City's midfield. De Bruyne, who has assisted on 18 goals in just 48 games, made his sixth straight appearance in the XI. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="634"] PFA Team of the Year. | Credit: Dailymail[/caption]

Marcus Rashford Snubbed, No Liverpool Players in PFA Team of the Year

Marcus Rashford, despite his stellar play for Manchester United, was overlooked for a spot in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year. Since Haaland, Kane, and Saka all play together up front, Marcus Rashford was left out. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="634"] Marcus Rashford snubbed despite stellar performance last season. | Credit: Reuters[/caption] While the English striker aided Manchester United go back into the Champions League with 17 goals and five assists, he was largely ignored. The Reds had an incredible stretch run at the end of the season, but they still finished fifth and were eliminated from Champions League contention for the first time since 2015–16. David de Gea was also not considered despite winning the Golden Glove with 17 clean sheets, while Alisson Becker, Nick Pope, and Ederson were passed over despite having outstanding performances last season as well. Gunners' goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale earned the starting spot after keeping 14 clean sheets and making a number of spectacular saves throughout the season.

Nigerian Chuba Akpom Wins big at the PFA Awards

27-year-old Nigerian Chuba Akpom won the PFA Championship Players’ Player of the Year Award 2023 for his outstanding performance for Middlesbrough last season. He scored 28 goals in 40 appearances and helped his team reach the playoffs. He was also transferred to Ajax for €12.3 million this summer. [caption id="attachment_8910" align="aligncenter" width="621"] Chuba Akpom wins Championship Players' Player of the Year Award 2023. | Credit: thepfa.com[/caption]

Other PFA Award Winners

In addition to Haaland and Saka, there were several other winners at the PFA Awards for the 2022/23 season.

• Aston Villa's Rachel Daly won the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year award.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="674"] Aston Villa's Rachel Daly won the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year award.[/caption]

• Chelsea's Lauren James was named PFA Women's Young Player of the Year

[caption id="attachment_8912" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Lauren James won PFA Women's Young Player of the Year. | Credit: thepfa.com[/caption] In the Championship,

• Former Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic (now plays for Al Hilal) was named PFA Player of the Year

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Aleksandar Mitrovic. Source: Google[/caption]

• Swansea's Jamal Lowe won the PFA Young Player of the Year award. 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="659"] Jamal Lowe won the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Source: Google[/caption] Overall, the PFA Awards for the 2022/23 season were a celebration of some of the best talent in English football. Haaland's incredible season at Manchester City was rightly recognized with the Players' Player of the Year award, while Arsenal's young stars showed that they are a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.