Ruben Dias is crowned FWA Footballer of the Year after superb season

05/20/2021

Ruben Dias is crowned FWA Footballer of the Year after taking the Premier League by storm in his debut season and helping Man City regain the title… as he beats Harry Kane and team-mate Kevin De Bruyne to the award

Ruben Dias is on the brink of winning a Treble in his first season in England
The Manchester City star has been rewarded by the FWA for his performances
He received the most votes from members of the Football Writers’ Association
Dias beat Tottenham’s Harry Kane and team-mate Kevin De Bruyne to the award
The 24-year-old centre back has described winning the gong as ‘huge privilege’
He is the first defender to be named the FWA winner since Steve Nicol in 1989

Ruben Dias has been named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year after a stunning first season in the Premier League.

The Manchester City defender, who was signed from Benfica for £64million last summer, has established himself as arguably the top centre back in the division and helped Pep Guardiola’s side regain the title in style earlier this month.

Dias received the most votes from FWA members and beat the likes of Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, Tottenham striker Harry Kane and team-mate Kevin De Bruyne to the prestigious award.

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has been crowned FWA Footballer of the Year

Dias, pictured celebrating a goal in February, has been rewarded for an outstanding season

Dias has beaten the likes of Kevin De Bruyne (left) and Harry Kane (right) to the FWA award

As well as playing an integral role in their Premier League triumph, Dias also starred as City won the Carabao Cup and reached next week’s Champions League final.

Dias is the first defender to win the award since Liverpool’s Steve Nicol in 1989 – more than three decades ago. He is also only the third player to be named FWA Footballer of the Year in his first season at a club, following Jurgen Klinsmann at Tottenham (1995) and Gianfranco Zola at Chelsea (1997).

The FWA revealed that Dias was a ‘comfortable’ winner ahead of Kane in second and De Bruyne in third place. In total, nine Manchester City players received at least one vote each, with Guardiola’s players accounting for over 50 per cent of all votes cast.

Speaking after picking up the award, Dias said: ‘It’s a huge privilege. I’m very, very happy.

‘It’s the same as always: obviously, I could not have done it without the success of the team – everyone in the team being able to deserve this award. Only by that was I – as a defender – able to be here to receive this prize.

‘It means something special because normally, the ones who finish the plays are the ones getting the spotlight but me receiving this prize is a major example of our team and the way we work – the way we build our game.

Dias lifts the Carabao Cup last month after helping City defeat Tottenham at Wembley

Dias has enjoyed an outstanding first season with City – stats courtesy of www.sofascore.com

LAST FIVE WINNERS

2019-20: Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)

2018-19: Raheem Sterling (Man City)

2017-18: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

2016-17: N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)

2015-16: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester)

‘It reflects all the togetherness we have on the pitch, the spirit in the team and how we perform.

‘With these players, for me to be receiving this award, it shows how we play like a family.’

The 24-year-old has enjoyed an outstanding debut season in England after making the move from Portugal last September, playing 48 times in all competitions and scoring once.

His rock solid partnership with John Stones proved key as Guardiola’s men recovered from a disappointing 2019-20 campaign to win the Premier League title, with Dias keeping 14 clean sheets in 31 appearances so far.

FWA chair Carrie Brown said: ‘Ruben Dias turned heads soon after his arrival in Manchester, a 23- year-old belying his age with fortitude, steel, a relentless drive for perfection and an almost superhuman ability to read and anticipate phases of play.

‘This, while commendable, would not alone qualify a player to win the FWA Footballer of the Year award. One of our founding members, Charles Buchan, prescribed the award to recognise and celebrate a player who ‘by precept and example’ is considered to be the footballer of the year.

Dias gets away from Neymar during City’s Champions League semi-final win against PSG

‘Pep Guardiola improves players, shapes them but at no point, has a new signing arrived into one of Pep’s already trophy-laden teams and exerted such influence.

‘Dias has demanded the highest standards which have resulted in the swiftest of upturns in fortune not solely for Dias himself, but team-mates to his left, right, front and centre.

‘Ruben Dias is our Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year for his leadership on and off the pitch as much as for the infectious joy he derives from executing the art of defending to perfection.

‘I wonder if it is quite poignant that, in a time when so many find their backs against the wall, there is heart to be taken from the joy Dias exudes in standing firm and quelling the storm.

‘Perhaps, in this of all seasons, Dias is the leader we all need.’

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