The honours keep rolling in for Manchester United and England super striker Wayne Rooney. Just one week after being named the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year, he has secured an awards double when he was voted the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year. He finished ahead of Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and former United team mate Carlos Tevez after collecting a staggering 81% of the vote.
Rooney has topped a poll of journalists following an outstanding season during which he has scored 34 goals for United. He is aiming to shake off a groin injury to feature again before the end of the season and expressed his delight at clinching another individual accolade.
“I am delighted to win an award with so much history and tradition and to follow a long line of wonderful players who have been honoured by the Football Writers’ Association since 1948 gives me real pride,” said Rooney, who will receive his award at the FWA’s gala dinner at The Lancaster London Hotel on 13th May.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the coaching staff and my team mates without whose help and support this award would not have been possible. My thanks also go to my family and friends for their constant support which is always appreciated. I thank the Football Writers’ Association members who voted for me and I look forward to personally collecting my award at the Footballer of the Year dinner”
Football Writers Association chairman Steve Bates, chief football writer for The People, commented “Wayne is a worthy winner of our prestigious award and the margin of his victory is testimony to the marvellous season he has had for club and country. His tally of 34 goals so far this season is certain to have captured the attention of our members but I am sure the overall improvement in his game at Manchester United has been of equal significance”
Bates continued “Wayne’s enthusiasm, hunger and desire mark him out as a special player and we hope he can carry his club form onto the international stage in the World Cup this summer to help England achieve their dream. We now look forward to saluting Wayne at our dinner”
The complete list of PFA Player of the Year Winners
| Year | Player | Club |
| 1947–48 | Stanley Matthews | Blackpool |
| 1948–49 | Johnny Carey | Manchester United |
| 1949–50 | Joe Mercer | Arsenal |
| 1950–51 | Harry Johnston | Blackpool |
| 1951–52 | Billy Wright | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| 1952–53 | Nat Lofthouse | Bolton Wanderers |
| 1953–54 | Tom Finney | Preston North End |
| 1954–55 | Don Revie | Manchester City |
| 1955–56 | Bert Trautmann | Manchester City |
| 1956–57 | Tom Finney | Preston North End |
| 1957–58 | Danny Blanchflower | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 1958–59 | Syd Owen | Luton Town |
| 1959–60 | Bill Slater | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| 1960–61 | Danny Blanchflower | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 1961–62 | Jimmy Adamson | Burnley |
| 1962–63 | Stanley Matthews | Stoke City |
| 1963–64 | Bobby Moore | West Ham United |
| 1964–65 | Bobby Collins | Leeds United |
| 1965–66 | Bobby Charlton | Manchester United |
| 1966–67 | Jack Charlton | Leeds United |
| 1967–68 | George Best | Manchester United |
| 1968–69 | Tony Book (joint winner) | Manchester City |
| 1968–69 | Dave Mackay (joint winner) | Derby County |
| 1969–70 | Billy Bremner | Leeds United |
| 1970–71 | Frank McLintock | Arsenal |
| 1971–72 | Gordon Banks | Stoke City |
| 1972–73 | Pat Jennings | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 1973–74 | Ian Callaghan | Liverpool |
| 1974–75 | Alan Mullery | Fulham |
| 1975–76 | Kevin Keegan | Liverpool |
| 1976–77 | Emlyn Hughes | Liverpool |
| 1977–78 | Kenny Burns | Nottingham Forest |
| 1978–79 | Kenny Dalglish | Liverpool |
| 1979–80 | Terry McDermott | Liverpool |
| 1980–81 | Frans Thijssen | Ipswich Town |
| 1981–82 | Steve Perryman | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 1982–83 | Kenny Dalglish | Liverpool |
| 1983–84 | Ian Rush | Liverpool |
| 1984–85 | Neville Southall | Everton |
| 1985–86 | Gary Lineker | Everton |
| 1986–87 | Clive Allen | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 1987–88 | John Barnes | Liverpool |
| 1988–89 | Steve Nicol | Liverpool |
| 1989–90 | John Barnes | Liverpool |
| 1990–91 | Gordon Strachan | Leeds United |
| 1991–92 | Gary Lineker | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 1992–93 | Chris Waddle | Sheffield Wednesday |
| 1993–94 | Alan Shearer | Blackburn Rovers |
| 1994–95 | Jürgen Klinsmann | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 1995–96 | Eric Cantona | Manchester United |
| 1996–97 | Gianfranco Zola | Chelsea |
| 1997–98 | Dennis Bergkamp | Arsenal |
| 1998–99 | David Ginola | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 1999–00 | Roy Keane | Manchester United |
| 2000–01 | Teddy Sheringham | Manchester United |
| 2001–02 | Robert Pirès | Arsenal |
| 2002–03 | Thierry Henry | Arsenal |
| 2003–04 | Thierry Henry | Arsenal |
| 2004–05 | Frank Lampard | Chelsea |
| 2005–06 | Thierry Henry | Arsenal |
| 2006–07 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United |
| 2007–08 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United |
| 2008–09 | Steven Gerrard | Liverpool |
| 2009–10 | Wayne Rooney | Manchester United |
