Salah and Rogers Honoured at PFA Awards

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has secured the prestigious Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Men's Player of the Year award for a record-breaking third time, while Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers has been named the PFA Young Player of the Year. Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate received the PFA Merit Award for his outstanding contribution to English football.

Salah Dominates, Secures Historic Third Award

Salah, now 33, adds this latest accolade to his already impressive resume, cementing his place among the Premier League's elite. His pivotal role in Liverpool's title-winning campaign last season, marked by exceptional goal-scoring and creative play, proved decisive in the PFA's decision. He surpassed previous winners to become the first player ever to win the award three times.

"Of course, I wanted to be a football player and I wanted to be famous and provide for my family," Salah stated, reflecting on his journey from Egypt to Premier League stardom. "When you grow, you start to see things differently and you start to have ambition and you start to see the bigger picture."

The Egyptian international enjoyed a stellar 2024-25 season, finishing as the Premier League's top scorer with 29 goals and contributing 18 assists. He edged out a strong field of nominees, including Liverpool team-mate Alexis Mac Allister, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice.

This latest PFA award complements Salah's Premier League Player of the Season award and the Football Writers' Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year title, making it a clean sweep of individual honours for the Liverpool talisman.

Rogers Named Young Player of the Year After Breakthrough Season

Morgan Rogers' impressive performances for Aston Villa have been recognised with the PFA Young Player of the Year award. The 23-year-old midfielder played a crucial role in Villa's successful season, which saw them secure a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, reach the Champions League quarter-finals, and the FA Cup semi-finals.

"Later down the line, I want to be one of those incredible players people speak about, so to do that I have to do what they did and what they followed after," Rogers told BBC Sport. "It's a nice recognition, but there's more to win and I can't wait."

Rogers made 54 appearances in all competitions, scoring 14 goals. His contributions earned him a first senior England call-up in November 2024, and he has since earned six caps for the national team. He follows in the footsteps of fellow Aston Villa alumni Andy Gray, Gary Shaw, Ashley Young, and James Milner in winning the prestigious award.

Other nominees for the Young Player of the Year award included Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, Dean Huijsen (now at Real Madrid), Milos Kerkez (now at Liverpool), and Liam Delap (now at Chelsea).

Southgate Honoured with PFA Merit Award

Sir Gareth Southgate's significant contribution to English football has been recognised with the PFA Merit Award. During his eight-year tenure as England manager (2016-2024), Southgate led the national team to four major tournaments, including a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024.

Southgate is only the fifth former England manager to receive the award since its inception in 1974. He oversaw 102 matches as England boss, handing debuts to 42 players – almost double the number of any other England manager, revitalising the national team and fostering a new generation of talent.

Expert Analysis Football analyst Alan Shearer commented on Southgate's award: "Gareth transformed the England team, instilling a sense of pride and unity that had been missing for years. He not only achieved success on the pitch but also created a positive and inclusive environment within the squad."

Other Award Winners

Championship Player of the Year: James Trafford (Manchester City, formerly Burnley) League One Player of the Year: Richard Kone (Queens Park Rangers, formerly Wycombe) League Two Player of the Year: Michael Cheek (Bromley)

PFA Team of the Year Dominated by Liverpool and Arsenal

The PFA Premier League Team of the Year, voted for by the players, features a strong representation from champions Liverpool and runners-up Arsenal:

Goalkeeper: Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest) Defenders: William Saliba (Arsenal), Gabriel (Arsenal), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth, now Liverpool) Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Declan Rice (Arsenal) Forwards: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Alexander Isak (Newcastle), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)