Manchester City’s Erling Haaland was rewarded last season for his remarkable goalscoring feats and his role in Pep Guardiola’s sensational Treble success.
The Footballer of the Year is the oldest individual honour in the game and has been voted for since 1948 by the Football Writers’ Association, which has almost 900 members in England.
This year’s contenders are likely to feature Haaland’s team-mates Phil Foden and Rodri. Arsenal duo Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice are two of the best players in Mikel Arteta’s impressive squad, while many reporters point to the goalscoring excellence of Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
Our writers give their views:
Gerry Cox
Phil Foden – the Stockport Iniesta has stepped up when Manchester City have needed him, just like Ilkay Gundogan did last season, and has carried the creative burden while Kevin De Bruyne was injured for most of the season. Foden is a player who gets you up on the edge of your seat and leads the chart of creative midfielders, with 24 goals and 10 assists so far this season. And still only 23!
Dan Ludlam
Phil Foden – Taken his game to the next level in past 12 months. Pep Guardiola has given him more freedom to perform and he has taken responsibility with bucket load of goals and assists. In the absence of Haaland and De Bruyne he stepped up with City now on course for four in a row. 16 goals and 7 assists in the Premier League shows a clear step up in his game, with his increased maturity proving just how invaluable he is to the Citizens.
Nick Callow
Martin Odegaard – Arsenal’s captain has been playing at a higher level for a couple of years but this season has really lived up to his teenage billing when he was touted around Europe as the Norwegian Lionel Messi. Not just a creative genius on the ball, he is possibly the hardest-working player in a very hard-working team. Arsenal’s Mr Motivator and Creator, he is also the club’s go-to player to interact with the media whether results have gone for or against the club. Fits all the criteria to be named Footballer of the Year.
James St Denis
Phil Foden – It is safe to say that Manchester City’s charge towards another Premier League title would not be possible without Phil Foden. The form the 23-year-old has shown of late has been mesmerising, with his goals securing at least 11 points for Pep Guardiola’s side as they search to become the first side in Premier League history to win four titles in a row. Foden has progressed from being a potential scarlet to one of the first names on the team sheet in one of the best footballing teams in the modern era.
Andrew Smith
Ollie Watkins – With Watkins, Villa are not challenging for the league but his 19 goals and 12 assists this season has spearheaded Unai Emery’s team into the top four. It’s the best return for an Aston Villa striker for 40 years and since Emery joined Villa, only Erling Haaland (39) has netted more times in the league than Watkins (32). The 28 year-old’s individual performances this campaign have statistically been the best, and it looks like leading Aston Villa to Europe’s premier competition for the first time since 1982.
Dan Bennett
Rodri – The Manchester City midfielder has been among the best players in the world for a long time now and deserves to be recognised with this award after another incredible season. The 27-year-old is Pep Guardiola’s most important player and without him, the achievements of recent years would not have been possible. He never gives the ball away and his range of passing along with his decision making to pick out the right team-mate is a joy to watch, and he’s also chipped in with goals this season. A brilliant footballer.
