Bruno Fernandes beats Declan Rice to win Football Writers’ Player of the year Award
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has been crowned the 2025/26 Player of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association. Fernandes wins the award ahead of Declan Rice by 28 votes, with Erling Haaland voted in third place. He is the first Man United player to win the award in 16 years, since Wayne Rooney in 2010, […]
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has been crowned the 2025/26 Player of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association.
Fernandes wins the award ahead of Declan Rice by 28 votes, with Erling Haaland voted in third place.
He is the first Man United player to win the award in 16 years, since Wayne Rooney in 2010, and the ninth overall.
The Football Writers’ Association is an umbrella body for all football journalists in the country, and the awarded which began at the inception of the body in 1947, is widely considered the oldest and most prestigious individual award in English football.
Fernandes win the Football Writers’ Player of the Year award following a stellar campaign in which he dragged Manchester United back to third position, and with it the Champions League qualification next season.
His leadership on the pitch has seen him supply 19 assists so far this season, and the 31 years old creative midfielder is just one assist from equaling Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s record of 20 assists. He can set a new record with two more assists in the three matches left till end of the season.
Fernandes was the only Man United player nominated, and he wins the award claiming over 45% of votes casted by the 900 member-strong association. He is the third Portuguese to win the award, following the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo (twice) and Ruben Dias.
The former Sporting Lisbon playmaker is also the first player outside the top-two clubs in the English Premier League to claim the individual accolade since Gareth ale in 2013.
Fernandes, who joined Man United in January 2020, has scored eight goals in addition to his assists, 27 goals contributions, and has created 29 big chances in the league this season.