Sport
PFA Awards 2022/23: Haaland and Rashford bag Player of the Year awards as Man City dominate Team of the Year
The big number nine was by no means the only Blue recognised on the night.
Danny Jones -
30th August 2023 
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Man United’s Marcus Rashford have taken home the 2022/23 men’s Player of the Year awards at the most recent PFA Awards on Tuesday night, as Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning side once again dominated the Team of the Year.
This year’s Professional Footballers’ Association Awards saw the ceremony return to Manchester for the first time since 2020 and on a significant milestone, as it marked the 50th year since the event started.
Instead of being held in London as it is traditionally, the 22/23 season’s PFA Awards took place at the Lowry Theatre over in Media City, as dozens of football stars rocked up to Salford Quays to celebrate last year’s impressive campaigns.
When it came to the Players’ Player of the Year, there was only ever going to be one person’s name on the trophy and he can add it all the other accolades he won during his record-breaking season: Erling Haaland. 36 league goals and eight assists alone in 35 games — all in his first year. Insane.
When it came to the PFA’s Team of the Year, the Norwegian was accompanied by four other Man City teammates, as Ruben Dias, John Stones, Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri were all included in the 22/23 TOTY selection, making up nearly half of the entire 11. I mean, they did win the treble.
It was a similar success for the WSL Team of the Year as well, with Lionesses defender Alex Greenwood included for the third time in a row, midfielder Yui Hasegawa making her first appearance on the list and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw joining them after her impressive season of 20 goals and seven assists.
Manchester United managed three of their own in the 22/23 WSL TOTY too, with England hero Mary Earps never in doubt along with her rock-solid defensive partnership, Ona Batlle and Maya Le Tissier.
Speaking of the red half of Manchester, Old Trafford saw one more award come its way as Marcus Rashford managed to earn the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year Award following his best-ever statistical season.
Read more:
- Ella Toone and the Lionesses stand in solidarity with Spain’s ‘unbelievable’ women’s team
- Britain equals best-ever medal tally at Worlds as Atherton’s Keely Hodgkinson wins silver
- Manchester City legend Pablo Zabaleta mistakenly used in BBC report on Luis Rubiales scandal
As you can see, it turned out to be a great night for the Mancs and the fact they simply had to go down the road to receive their recognition was a nice bonus.
Elsewhere, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka won the Young Player of the Year Award, with Lauren James winning the equivalent in the WSL awards, while fellow Lioness and Aston Villa star Rachel Daly won the Women’s Player of the Year.
You can see the full list of winners and nominees HERE.
We dare say you’ll see a fair few of the same names on the list again this time next year.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Image — PFA/Khadija Bunny Shaw/Marcus Rashford (via Instagram)
