Haaland is the best player in the Premier League this season

Surpassing two Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, Man City striker Erling Haaland won the "Best Premier League Player 2022-2023" award voted by the Football Writers' Association (FWA).

In a vote with more than 800 FWA members, Haaland won overwhelmingly with more than 80% of the total votes - a record in Premier League history.

Following in order are Saka, Odegaard (Arsenal), Kevin de Bruyne (Man City) and Marcus Rashford (Man Utd). The remaining players in the Top 15 are Harry Kane, Declan Rice, Casemiro, Mohamed Salah, Kieran Trippier, James Maddison, Granit Xhaka, Rodri, John Stones and Moses Caicedo.

Haaland at Man City's training ground on May 12. Photo: mancity.com — Haaland at Man City's training ground on May 12. Photo: *mancity.com*

Haaland is the third Man City player to win the award in the last five seasons, after Ruben Dias (2021) and Raheem Sterling (2019). The Norwegian striker also became the fourth player to win the award in his first season in England, after Dias (2021), Gianfranco Zola (1997) and Jurgen Klinsmann (1995).

The FWA Player of the Season award has been given out by the FWA since 1948, and is considered the most prestigious individual award in English football, alongside the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) award. Thierry Henry is the most awarded FWA player, with three. In its more than 70-year history, only Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo have won the award two years in a row. Last year, Liverpool star Mohamad Salah was honored.

Haaland said receiving the award from FWA was an honor and meant a lot, and thanked his teammates and coaching staff for helping him adapt to the new environment in Manchester as well as creating goals on the field. The 22-year-old striker thanked those who voted for him, and set a goal to help Man City finish the season strongest and win titles.

After arriving at Man City for a fee of 63 million USD, Haaland quickly integrated and continuously shone when scoring 51 goals in just 47 matches in all competitions. In particular, the Norwegian striker scored 35 goals in the Premier League and broke the record for most goals scored in a season held by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole (both 34 goals).

With 51 goals, Haaland also broke the record for most goals scored in a season in all competitions by a Premier League player, breaking the old record of Mohamed Salah in the 2017-2018 season and Ruud van Nistelrooy in the 2002-2003 season (both 44 goals). He also became the Man City player with the most goals in a season, breaking the record of 38 goals set by Tommy Johnson from the 1928-1929 season.

In the Champions League, Haaland leads the list of top scorers with 12 goals in nine matches, including five in the 7-0 win over Leipzig in the second leg of the round of 16. Thanks to that, he became the youngest player and the fastest to reach 30 goals in the history of the tournament.

Haaland's brilliant form helps Man City's ambition to recreate Man Utd's historic treble in the 1998-1999 season. The Blues of Manchester are currently top of the Premier League, meeting Real in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals on the evening of May 17 and facing Man Utd in the FA Cup final at Wembley on June 3.

This season, the Premier League honored Haaland with the Player of the Month award for the second time, in August 2022 and April 2023.

Also on May 12, Haaland was voted the Premier League Player of the Month for April. The Norwegian striker scored six goals and assisted two, helping Man City win all four matches last month to dominate the title race. Haaland beat De Bruyne, Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Alexander Isak (Newcastle United), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) and Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) to win the award for the second time, after August 2022.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was named manager of the month, with a record of five months, one draw and one loss. Matheus Nunes won the best goal award for his volley that helped Wolves beat Chelsea 1-0 on April 8, while Aaron Ramsdale won the best save award for his flying save of Mohamed Salah's left-footed curler late in Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Liverpool on April 9.

Hong Duy

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