Bruno Fernandes beats Arsenal trio to another Player of the Year award | Football | Sport
The Premier League has confirmed Bruno Fernandes as their Player of the Season. Fernandes, 31, was voted the winner from a shortlist that included Antoine Semenyo, David Raya, Declan Rice, Erling Haaland, Gabriel Magalhaes, Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Thiago.
The accolade adds to his Football Writers’ Association’s Men’s Footballer of the Year trophy, and the Manchester United captain claimed the award after equalling the Premier League assist record with a joint-record tally of 20. Fernandes has the opportunity to surpass the all-time mark he currently shares with Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry on the final day of the season, when United travel to Brighton and Hove Albion.
His 20th assist arrived in this season’s final home fixture against Nottingham Forest, with Fernandes teeing up Bryan Mbeumo for what turned out to be the decisive goal. The Portugal international has also netted eight times this campaign, helping United secure a place in the league phase of next season’s Champions League, but the assist record has understandably stolen the spotlight from his goalscoring.
Fernandes said after equalling the record in United’s 3-2 win at Old Trafford: “I’m very happy for the assist and for the win, and to finish the season on a high. I got to 20, let’s see – we have one more game! It’s the highest I’ve done in the Premier League, so I am very happy with it.”
The achievement also surpasses any other United player in history. Fernandes has eclipsed the previous record of 15, set by David Beckham during the 1999/2000 season.
Nemanja Vidic was the last United player to scoop the Premier League’s accolade for the 2010/11 season, placing him amongst five multiple-time winners. That campaign marked the fifth consecutive year the honour went to a United player, with Wayne Rooney having claimed it the season prior.
The defender first won the award in the 2008/09 season, following back-to-back triumphs by Cristiano Ronaldo. Fernandes has also equalled his fellow Portuguese star’s record of six Player of the Month awards in a single season.
Before Ronaldo’s maiden Player of the Year triumph, United endured three seasons without a player lifting the accolade. Van Nistelrooy claimed the trophy for the 2002/03 campaign.
Their future interim head coach followed in the footsteps of fellow striker Dwight Yorke, who claimed the honour during the 1998/99 season. Peter Schmeichel was the first recipient of the award in the Premier League’s second season, 1995/96.
