There was great news for Phil Foden last night, as he was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year for 2023/24.
The Manchester City star added yet another individual gong to his haul, after shining for City as the club surged to a fourth Premier League title in a row.
The former academy star had already scooped the Premier League Player of the Season award, and the FWA equivalent.
Foden scored 27 goals and made 12 assists in 53 games, stepping up to the plate week in, week out in the absences of big players like Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.
Foden was instrumental in City’s push for the title – had he not been in such good form, Arsenal might have pipped City.
Declan Rice reacts with three words as Phil Foden claims PFA Players’ Player of the Year award
Last night, the PFA awards were held for the 2023/24 season.
Foden was the favourite heading in, but there was an outside chance that his own City teammate Rodri might have won.
Rodri was incredible again in 2023/24, but even the Spanish maestro reckoned Foden was a worthy winner – and he feels Foden could go on to become the greatest English player ever. He said: “For me, he has the ability and he’s able to be the best English player in my opinion when he finishes his career.”
Foden staved off competition from Rodri, Erling Haaland, Ollie Watkins, Martin Odegaard and Cole Palmer to win the award.
One man who didn’t quite make the list of nominees despite a very good season was Declan Rice.
Rice obviously knows Foden very well due to the pair being England teammates, and the City man’s quality is not lost on him.
Rice – who did make the PFA Team of the Year – was among several pros to comment on Foden’s latest Instagram post marking his win at the PFA awards.
He wrote simply: “Fully deserved mate.”
Foden can win again
Foden has previously won back-to-back Young Player of the Season awards, and there is no reason why he cannot win back-to-back Player of the Season awards.
The 24-year-old is operating at a world-class level now, and is obviously surrounded by incredible teammates and working under arguably the greatest manager of all time.
So there is a great chance that Foden can enjoy another phenomenal season.
Potentially, Kevin De Bruyne will need rotating a bit more this season, and obviously Julian Alvarez has already been sold. So Foden does stand to be central to City’s campaign once more.
