Manchester City defender Rúben Dias has been named the Men’s Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers Association (FWA). He helped the club win the Premier League and the Carabao Cup, as well as reaching the final of the Champions League, in which Chelsea would play at Poto on 29th May.
Thanked FWA for the award in a tweet he posted on his official Twitter handle. He wrote: “Thank you to the FWA who voted for me for this award! It’s a huge honour to be recognised in just my first season. But I could not have done it without the team who have been incredible this season. Now let’s focus on these last two games.”
“It is a great privilege. Obviously, I could not have done it without the success of the team,” said Dias. “I think getting this award is a prime example of how our team works, how we make our game. It reflects the whole community that we have on the field, the way we perform, and the team spirit and with these players.”
The Portugal international was a suitable winner ahead of Tottenham forward Harry Kane and City teammate Kevin De Bruyne. Dias is only the third player to win an FWA award in his first season in English football, and the last defender to win the award was Steve Nicol of Liverpool 32 years ago.
FWA chairwoman Carrie Brown said: “Pep Guardiola improves players, shapes them — but at no point has a new signing arrived into one of Pep’s already trophy-laden teams and exerted such influence.”
“Ruben Dias is our Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year for his leadership on and off the pitch as much as for the infectious joy he derives from executing the art of defending to perfection.”
Chelsea and England striker Fran Kirby has won the FWA Women’s Award earlier this month.
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