After an outstanding first campaign at Manchester City, Ruben Dias collects the Football Writers’ Association’s footballer of the year award.
The Portuguese beats his teammate Kevin De Bruyne and Tottenham Hotspurs forward Harry Kane to claim the odds. Notably, the young defender cemented his place at City and has helped the club regain the Premier League glory.
After being voted as the FWA player of the year, the 24-year old Dias was first to thank his teammate. He points that he couldn’t have nailed that without them.
“It is a huge privilege. Obviously, I could not have done it without the success of the team,” Dias said.
“I think me receiving this prize is the major example of how our team works, the way we build our game. It reflects all the togetherness we have on the pitch. How we perform and the spirit that is in the team and with these players,” the Portugal international added.
In the voting event, reports claim that Manchester City dominated the list with nine City players overall. The report says, the City nominees’ claimed more than 50 percent of the total votes cast.
In the end, it was Dias’s turn to be the third player to win the FWA award. Despite this being the defender’s first season in English football and at City, he beats the odds to win FWA.
While confirming the news, FWA chairwoman Carrie Brown says, “Pep Guardiola improves players, shapes them. But at no point has a new signing arrived into one of Pep’s already trophy-laden teams and exerted such influence.”
She announced, “Ruben Dias is our Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year for his leadership on and off the pitch. As much as for the infectious joy he derives from executing the art of defending to perfection.”