Chronicle Editor
LONDON — Mohamed Salah has been named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year for the second time.
Salah beat off competition from the likes of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice and Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne to win the prestigious award.
Salah received an enormous 48 percent of the vote, with De Bruyne finishing second and Rice third in the poll.
It is the second time Salah has won the award, having previously done so in 2018.
The Egyptian forward has been in tremendous form once again this season, scoring 22 goals and providing 13 assists for Liverpool in the English Premier League.
Players from title-chasers City and Liverpool dominated the voting, with nine Reds stars in total receiving nominations. City had six players put forward out of a total of 31 from 12 different clubs.
Chelsea striker Sam Kerr proved similarly dominant in the women’s poll, taking 40 percent of the vote to claim the prize ahead of Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema and City ace Lauren Hemp in third.
FWA chair, Carrie Brown, said: “Both Mo and Sam have been outstanding this season, breaking records for both club and country.
As well as their performances on the pitch, they are leaders and standard bearers of excellence at their clubs and respective leagues.
“The fact they have won by such convincing margins underlines just how impressive they have been this season which has been recognised by our members.”
FWA Executive Secretary, Paul McCarthy, said, “This absolutely vindicates the decision to make the vote for the Women’s Footballer of the Year open and shows the huge level of interest and expertise within our membership for the women’s game.”
— The Daily Star
Online Reporter