Latest news with #TeamOfTheYear
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Why Alexander Isak may have closed his own window on dream move to Liverpool
It was only minutes after the PFA team of the year departed the stage at Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, with just 10 players rather than 11, that Alexander Isak decided to make his presence felt in a different way. You could sense the ripple around the room as people began to animatedly tell each other of the Swede's social statement, the first time that he has publicly spoken on this summer's dominant saga. More than a few players raised their eyebrows. Everyone was taking it in. Isak's talk of broken promises and that a change is best for all parties felt like a point of no return… except Newcastle United are now more determined than ever to not let him go to Liverpool or anywhere else. It was quite an event for all of this to coincide, and of course a significant part of the story. Isak's performances for Newcastle last season saw him voted into the team chosen by his peers, while also pushing Mohamed Salah for the overall award. Newcastle didn't block him attending, but they obviously weren't going to join him, and he himself didn't feel right appearing. Although this is the prize the Professional Footballers' Association is best known for, they are essentially a labour union, who specifically represent players' affairs. The Opera House and after-party were consequently full of executives, agents and lawyers – as well as players – trying to make sense of this situation, as well as wonder what next. A common line was that no normal employee is refused the possibility to just change jobs in this way… but then sport does require special agreements in order to function as sport. We are at a point when many of these agreements are being legally challenged like never before, such as in the Lassana Diarra case, which could yet blow up the global transfer market. The Isak saga may not necessarily help that along, though. A consensus grew that he might have gone too far. Players themselves – including some of Isak's Newcastle teammates – generally empathise with such situations, since it's a short career and they feel you have to maximise your own opportunities. Most wouldn't have gone about it like this. Dressing-room insiders meanwhile say that Isak's current teammates feel 'let down', amid split opinions. While the PFA obviously isn't going to speak publicly on a player going on strike, the prevailing view is that it doesn't like it, because it is not a position that engenders sympathy. Isak has instead managed to create some sympathy for what is essentially a sportswashing project. It is not the only irony to this situation. One of many reasons that Isak wants to leave is because he is going to be 26 in September and doesn't currently feel Newcastle have the capabilities to compete for the major trophies. There are many reasons for that, too, but one is dysfunction within the club this summer. And yet it is that very dysfunction that may end up meaning Isak has to stay. For all the words and circuitous arguments expended on this saga over the past few months, the entire story really comes down to two truths. The most relevant is that Newcastle absolutely weren't going to sanction a sale without an adequate replacement. They have so far failed in that, having seen at least four primary targets turn them down. As the end of the window gets closer, and the quality of viable alternatives decreases, Isak has clearly started to agitate. Hence the silence being broken on Tuesday. And yet it was through those very words that Isak may have brought all this down to the other crucial truth in any such saga. There is a delicate balance of power to such situations. While the window is open, the player has most of the leverage, especially since clubs generally don't want to keep someone who isn't fully committed. It becomes a corrosive problem – 'stink the place out', in the sport's language – and you can just go about other business. Once the window closes, however, the club has that leverage. The player has nowhere to go and obviously won't want to sit on the bench, especially in a World Cup year. Isak may have actually accelerated this, and closed his own window. As one industry figure with knowledge of the situation says, 'once players start putting out statements, that's when it gets messy'. It's all the more complicated due to the higher-level geopolitical dimension of this story. Newcastle were initially going to be realistic and pragmatic about this. Now, Isak has played on emotions, and they are the emotions of one of the most powerful entities on earth. The Public Investment Fund are the sovereign wealth fund of an autocracy, where the ruler has more centralised power than most countries on earth. What's more, if Newcastle were purchased to be a vehicle for political projection, they are now going to project strength. Through that, there are echoes of arguably the only modern saga to go to worse levels than this. In 2011, Carlos Tevez decamped to Argentina, while complaining that Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini had treated him 'like a dog'. Since City's ownership was a senior royal, however, they didn't have to think like a normal club. Chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak, one of the most powerful figures in the UAE, just insisted he wasn't going. That wasn't going to get done to City. Newcastle's stance is now the same. Isak isn't going. The saga has led to a lot of other discussions, like whether the player has been badly advised, or even whether clubs like Liverpool should want a player who has agitated like the Swede. The latter point is absurd. Isak is very good at scoring goals. When he's switched on, he amplifies your team. It's as simple as that. The question about his advice is more complicated. If Isak ultimately gets his move, no matter how it comes about, it will all have paid off. It's just hard to see how that might happen right now. Back at the PFA awards on Tuesday night, industry figures were talking about over whether Newcastle could be threatened with the Diarra judgment, or whether Fifa circular number 1917 could even come into play, where an International Transfer Certificate is requested for Isak and he temporarily grows abroad. That could involve going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, however, an maybe eventually a civil court. A messy story would even get even worse. Except, at the moment, Newcastle are insistent it's now much more simple. This isn't going anywhere, because Isak isn't going anywhere. That might yet be the final say for this window.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arsenal players shine at PFA awards
Arsenal came home with the player of the year award and the young player of the year award alongside four players making the team of the year. Photo via PFA on Twitter The PFA awards are voted by the players who have a good idea on their opposition's performance level and therefore have credibility, unlike fan voted trophies for example. Emily Fox, Kim Little, Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo were named in the XI. Interestingly, all the players selected come from the big four with four players for Arsenal, three for Manchester United, two for Manchester City and two for Chelsea. Goalkeeper: Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United) Emily Fox (Arsenal) Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United) Millie Bright (Chelsea) Jayde Riviere (Manchester United) Midfielders: Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City) Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea) Kim Little (Arsenal) Forwards: Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal) Alessia Russo (Arsenal) Mary Fowler (Manchester City) Photo via PFA on Twitter The Young Player of the Year award went to Arsenal's Olivia Smith for her performances with Liverpool Women in her first WSL season. She was electric throughout the season and that's why Arsenal paid a fee around £1M to sign the winger. The Player of the Year award went to Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey and rightly so. The club and especially the manager got a lot of grief for letting Vivianne Miedema go at the end of last season, but bringing Mariona Caldentey in was certainly a top-class replacement. She is one of those players who make the team and the players around her better. Photo via PFA on Twitter A reminder that she won in her first season at Arsenal: player of the year, Arsenal Women Supporters Club player of the season, WSL player of the season and PFA Players' player of the season. Basically a grand slam of individual trophies to add to the Champions League trophy for the third season in a row, a second place in the League and being runner-up at the Euros with Spain too. Photo byI am quite sure, Caldentey will be in the Ballon d'Or top 5, as her individual performances have been phenomenal this season. She may well win that trophy too, but there are so many talented players who performed strongly that it is hard to know how the votes will go.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Chris Wood named in Premier League Team of the Year
Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest celebrates after scoring a goal. Photo: MI NEWS / AFP All Whites striker Chris Wood has been named in the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) team of the year. Last season Wood enjoyed his best campaign to date in the English Premier League, scoring 20 league goals for Nottingham Forest. Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was named the PFA's Player of the Year on Wednesday, with the Egyptian becoming the first player to win the award three times. Salah, who joined Liverpool in 2017, was the Premier League's top scorer last season, with his 29 goals, along with 18 assists, playing a key role in the club winning the league title, finishing 10 points ahead of runners-up Arsenal. The 33-year-old had already clinched the Premier League Player of the Season award, the Golden Boot for most goals scored and the Playmaker award for most assists, making him the first player to win all three awards in the same season. Salah first won the PFA award in 2018 after his first season at Liverpool, and again in 2022, and this year came out on top of a six-man shortlist, voted for by PFA members from the 92 Premier League and Football League teams. That shortlist included his Liverpool teammate Alexis Mac Allister, along with Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, Arsenal's Declan Rice and Chelsea's Cole Palmer. Salah signed a two-year contract extension with Liverpool in April, ending months of speculation linking him with a move to the Saudi Pro League. Aston Villa and England midfielder Morgan Rogers was voted Young Player of the Year, after the 23-year-old scored eight league goals in his 37 starts last season and netted four goals in the Champions League including a hat-trick against Celtic. Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey was named Women's Player of the Year. The Spaniard scored nine league goals in her first season with the club along with eight goals in the Champions League where Arsenal beat her former club Barcelona to win the trophy. Canadian 21-year-old forward Olivia Smith, Liverpool's leading scorer last season across all competitions with nine goals, picked up the Young Player of the Year award. Smith has since joined Arsenal for a reported fee of one million pounds ($1.35 million), making her the first female player to break the seven-figure barrier. Liverpool had four players from last season, including Salah, named in the Premier League team of the year, along with new signing from Bournemouth, Milos Kerkez. Premier League Team of the Year: Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest); Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth), William Saliba (Arsenal), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal); Declan Rice (Arsenal), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool); Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Alexander Isak (Newcastle United), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest). - Reuters / RNZ
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Mo Salah wins PFA Player of the Year as Nottingham Forest show up Man Utd and Man City at awards
MANCHESTER was the location for this year's PFA awards — although there was a noticeable lack of representation from the two local clubs. It was the third time this glittering bash — previously staged in London — has been held in the north-west city. 4 4 And incredibly, for the third time in succession, there was not a single Manchester United player in the men's Premier League PFA team of the year. It sums up what a mess it has been at Old Trafford recently. You have to go back to 2022 for the last United player to feature in the line-up and, even then, it was left to Cristiano Ronaldo to fly the flag for the club. There were also no players in the team of the season from Manchester City, illustrating what a disappointing year it was for Pep Guardiola. Yet if the opening day of the season is anything to go by, City's players could be in the conversation for awards at the end of this campaign. And despite Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal, there were still some hugely encouraging signs at Old Trafford for United supporters. Maybe Benjamin Sesko will take English football by storm too, having arrived from RB Leipzig. What seems certain is the PFA team of the year in 12 months' time will not include a United keeper - unless they sign a new No 1, which looks unlikely. Frustratingly for supporters of both City and United, it was Liverpool 's players who arrived in Manchester to bask in the glory of being at the very top of their profession. 4 4 Mohamed Salah became the first player to win the award for a third time after another brilliant season helped Arne Slot win the title at the first attempt. Unsurprisingly, Liverpool had skipper Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Salah in the team of the year. Cheeky Mo Salah reveals Liverpool's Premier League title felt way better without Klopp, Mane and Firmino Salah, 33, had 29 top-flight goals and a career-best 18 assists as he claimed his fourth golden boot and second Premier League title for the Reds. Also in the top XI — as voted for by fellow Premier League players — was Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez who is now at Anfield. One person desperate to head to Merseyside, too, is Alexander Isak — and he featured in the dream team after a terrific season on Tyneside. For Nottingham Forest to have keeper Matz Sels and forward Chris Wood selected was a reminder of what a stunning campaign they enjoyed. Arsenal, who again finished second, saw William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice picked. It was no surprise none of Arsenal's forwards made the final XI, though. Maybe, Viktor Gyokeres could feature next time, yet he will have to do better than in Sunday's 1-0 win. Arsenal's PFA success At Manchester Opera House, Arsenal did have some success as Spanish star Mariona Caldentey was overall women's winner. With the closing date for the PFA awards now June 8 — rather than mid-March — members are able to give a much better, balanced vote. The previous event in London was a sit-down dinner often in April, so it did not reflect the entire season. After taking over as PFA chief exec, Maheta Molango scrapped the boozy dinner and replaced it with this 90-minute show in a theatre. Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers was young player of the year, while Burnley's James Trafford — who has returned to City — was Championship player of the year following 29 clean sheets. Unbelievably, he conceded just 16 goals in his 45 games. The evening also saw Gareth Southgate and Emma Hayes pick up special PFA merit awards.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Two stars SNUBBED in PFA Team of the Year despite both being nominated for top individual prize, but who joined Arsenal trio and Mo Salah in best XI?
The Premier League Team of the Year was revealed at the PFA awards in Manchester on Tuesday night with two glaring omissions. Despite Cole Palmer and Bruno Fernandes being among the nominees for Player of the Year, neither made the final XI chosen. Of the six stars nominated for Player of the Year, Palmer and Fernandes were the only ones not to then slot into the Team of the Year side and neither man turned up to the awards ceremony. The winners of each award are voted for by their fellow members of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Of course, Mo Salah, who claimed that top prize was the obvious inclusion at right wing. It was the 33-year-old's fourth inclusion after he spearheaded Liverpool 's title charge with 29 league goals. Alexis Mac Allister and partner Ailen Cova were on the red carpet for the awards on Tuesday Instead of Fernandes and Palmer, two more Liverpool midfielders were selected in Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, while Declan Rice was the third man in the engine room. Mac Allister scored five goals and delivered five assists. Gravenberch proved to be revelation in the No 6 role for the Reds as Arne Slot led them to their second Premier League crown in his first season in charge. Rice was the cornerstone of Arsenal's strong season in the middle of the pitch and is joined by fellow Gunners Gabriel and William Saliba. Virgil van Dijk makes the team for the fifth time and his new team-mate at Anfield, Milos Kerkez, also makes the cut after a stellar season for Bournemouth. Nottingham Forest's brilliant campaign sees them have two representatives, one at each end of the pitch. Chris Wood scored 20 league goals and is rewarded with a spot up front, while the golden glove winner Matz Sels is in between the sticks having kept 13 clean sheets. The other forward in the team is one facing an uncertain future. Alexander Isak is named in the line-up after his hugely impressive 27 goals in all competitions. The PFA Premier League Team of the Year - voted for by the players. 👏 #PFAawards — PFA (@PFA) August 19, 2025 It was also his goal that proved decisive in the League Cup final win over Liverpool - who remain interested in signing the Swede before the transfer window shuts in what would be a Premier League record move. In addition to Mo Salah's PFA Player of the Year award, Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa scooped the Young Player of the Year prize. The 23-year-old recorded 14 goals and 16 assists in all competitions, seeing off Liam Delap, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri. Olivia Smith claimed the Women's Young Player of the Year award after a superb season for Liverpool that led to a record-breaking summer move to Arsenal. She will team up with Mariona Caldentey, who won the PFA Women's Player of the Year award after netting 19 times in all competitions for the Gunners. Emma Hayes and Gareth Southgate were both recognised with PFA Merit awards on the night.
