What We're Reading
PFA Releases Player of the Year Shortlist
- ESPN FC, Friday, April 19, 2013 12:45 PM
England’s Professional Footballers’ Association on Friday released the shortlist for its Player of the Year award for which Tottenham winger Gareth Bale is the
favorite. Manchester United’s Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Juan Mata, and Liverpool
forward Luis Suarez join the Welshman on the six-man list.
Bale, the PFA Player of the Year winner in 2010-11, has 17 goals and 3 assists for Spurs in the Premier League so
far this season. United forward van Persie has 21 goals and 8 assists, while Liverpool striker Suarez has 22 goals and 4 assists. Chelsea midfielders Mata and Hazard have 18 goals and 20 assists
between them. United’s Carrick, used mostly as a defensive midfielder or a central defender, has 1 goal and 4 assists.
Bale and Hazard were also nominated for the Young Player of the
Year award, along with Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, West Brom striker Romelu Lukaku (who is on-loan from Chelsea), Aston Villa forward Christian
Benteke, and Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck.
Former Aston Villa striker Andy Gray and former Manchester United forward Cristiano
Ronaldo are the only players to have won both awards in the same year.
