TEAM EFFORT
Our domestic success across the board was emulated in the PFA’s Men’s and Women’s Team of the Year votes, with an incredible ten City players making the cut.
Ederson, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias and John Stones were recognised for their efforts in defence, while Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan were also given the nod.
In the Women’s Team of the Year, City’s attacking quartet of Caroline Weir, Sam Mewis, Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly all made the cut thanks to a free-scoring campaign for Gareth Taylor‘s side.
DIAS’ DREAM DEBUT CAMPAIGN
The Portuguese defender’s arrival from Benfica at the end of September proved to be one of the key chapters in our quest to retain the Premier League title.
Instantly cementing himself at the heart of the league’s meanest defence, it comes as no surprise that Dias has been recognised for an incredible debut campaign with a hat-trick of awards.
The the defender has taken home the Premier League Player of the Season, Football Writer’s Player of the Year and the Etihad Player of the Season awards as part of a stellar first campaign in England.
And at just 24, the best is surely yet to come from Dias!
BOSSING IT
Pep Guardiola once again masterminded a truly incredible campaign, with City finishing top of the tree for a third time in four seasons.
While this is a phenomenal achievement within itself, under Guardiola’s tutelage City were also the league’s top scorers and conceded the fewest goals in the process.
The Spaniard’s scintillating brand of football has smashed numerous records across the campaign, namely a 21-match winning run and the most consecutive away league wins (12) in the history of the top four tiers of English football.
With this in mind, Guardiola‘s Premier League and LMA Manager of the Year accolades are just rewards for his tireless efforts at the helm.
DE BRUYNE DELIGHT
What list of individual awards would be complete without an appearance from Kevin De Bruyne?
After being named as UEFA Midfielder of the Season in October 2020 and as part of the FIFPro 2019-2020 team of the year in December, the Belgian added one final honour to his glittering individual cabinet.
Fending off competition from teammates Foden, Dias and Gundogan as well as Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Spurs captain Harry Kane, De Bruyne took home the PFA Player of the Year award; voted for by his fellow professionals.
YOUNG GUNS
Often deployed on the flank, Phil Foden showed an adaptability and maturity well beyond his 21 years to become a key cog in Pep Guardiola’s well-oiled machine.
The City midfielder has been recognised for those efforts with a double swoop, taking home the PFA Young Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Year awards.
Lauren Hemp followed suit for Gareth Taylor’s side, being rewarded for another impressive individual campaign with a second successive PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year gong.
The 20-year-old has now won the award an incredible three times in the past four seasons, with her first accolade coming in 2018 when she plied her trade for Bristol City.
Furthermore, young forward Liam Delap has also gained recognition for his role in our Elite Development Squad’s march to a maiden Premier League 2 title.
The 18-year-old’s 24-goal haul for Enzo Maresca’s Young Charges has seen him voted as the Premier League 2 Player of the Season.
If any further evidence were needed that the future is bright at City, then the achievements of each of these starlets should provide all the proof needed.
NISSAN GOAL OF THE SEASON
A debut campaign to remember for Ferran Torres was capped off by a phenomenal hat-trick in our dramatic 4-3 win over Newcastle United in May.
The Spaniard’s opening strike of his first City treble was the pick of the bunch, with his sumptuous flick from Ilkay Gundogan’s searching free-kick finding the far corner of the hosts’ net.
A truly brilliant individual effort which was executed to perfection, Torres’ back-heeled finish has earned him the Men’s Nissan Goal of the Season award.
A similarly audacious finish saw Weir take home the Women’s gong for her strike in February’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United.
Picking up play on the edge of the visitors’ box, the Scottish international dragged the ball away from the attentions of Jackie Groenen before leaving Mary Earps stranded with a phenomenal chipped finish to cap off memorable derby win.
GOLDEN GLOVE
With just 32 goals conceded across the entire campaign, City boasted the Premier League’s best defensive record.
At the heart of that was Ederson, whose 19 shutouts in 36 matches ensured that he earned the Premier League Golden Glove award.
It’s the second-successive season that the Brazilian has landed the coveted prize, given to the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets
In doing so, he became the first player to retain the award since former City stopper Joe Hart between 2011 and 2013.
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WOMEN’S END OF SEASON AWARDS
A sensational debut season for Chloe Kelly ensured that she was recognised as the SCM Player of the Season.
Although her maiden campaign was sadly cut short by an ACL injury sustained against Birmingham City, the winger chalked up 16 goals and 14 assists in 34 appearances.
Esme Morgan‘s impressive breakthrough campaign was rewarded with the Gatorade Rising Star award.
In a season that will live long in her memory, the 20-year-old made her first Wembley appearance, her continued with her Champions League debut, first senior England call-up and grabbed her first City goal for equal measure.
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
Two of our players have also been recognised for their work away from the pitch, with Ilkay Gundogan and Aoife Mannion both earning the PFA Community Champion Award.
Gundogan raised over £23,000 by organising an auction to help support cafes and restaurants in Manchester struggling with the effects of the UK lockdown.
Mannion worked alongside City in the Community to champion and support its new mental health project, speaking with school children about how she managed her mental health during a tough injury lay-off.
