It seems Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale is ruling the award ceremonies these days that is why he added another award to his recently won two PFA awards. He is now chosen for the prestigious Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award for current season for his brilliant performance throughout the season that includes 24 goals in total, including 19 EPL goals out of 29 played games. Over 53% of the total voting was cast in Bale’s favor while last year’s winner Manchester United’s Robin van Persie ended on the second place along with Chelsea’s Juan Mata. Record wise, he is the first Welshman to win this award after goalkeeper Neville Southall who won this award back in 1985. Likewise, he is the second Spurs player to win the trophy after David Ginola who won this title in 1999. Actually, his performance has been consistent throughout the season that helped his club’s march to the quarter-finals of the Europa League along with standing a good chance to finish on a top-four place in the Premier League. Over his selection for another award in the same year, he said:
“It means a lot to win this award when you consider the number of players that have been outstanding for their clubs in the Premier League this season. I have been very fortunate to be playing in such a fantastic team and I owe a lot to my team-mates and, obviously, the manager who has shown such faith in me. This award has been won in the past by some of the greatest names in football and I consider it a privilege that the FWA has selected me to be named alongside them.”
He is only the second player after Ronaldo to win both PFA awards and FWA in the same season, while he is the fifteenth player to win PFA and FWA awards together in the same season. Out of these fifteen players, Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo have won this double two times.
Andy Dunn, Chairman of the FWA, said to a news source that “In a contest for votes that took so many late twists and turns, Gareth’s penchant for the spectacular captured the imagination. He is a player who is rising inexorably towards the rarefied levels of world stars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Twice the PFA Player of the Year and now, two months before his 24th birthday, the FWA Footballer of the Year. Let’s all hope he lights up the Premier League for many seasons to come.”