Who will be our players’ player of the year?

Who will be our players’ player of the year?

It’s always fascinating when the dressing room has its say at the awards night and this year will be no different when Manchester United’s player of the year is announced.

There will certainly be several names on the list, given the positive season that Erik ten Hag’s men have had during his first term as leader.

The players expected to top our fan poll for the Sir Matt Busby Trophy are also among the favorites in this category.

But a look back at the roll of honor shows that the recipient of the fan’s award doesn’t always double it. Only two men in the last decade have achieved this feat: David De Gea has done it three times (in 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2017/18) and Luke Shaw has won twice in 2018/19. Both can once again have a strong claim to the trophy this time around.

De Gea won the title last year and has been applauded by his team-mates for the fourth time since joining the club from Atletico Madrid in 2011.

Anthony Martial, in 2019/20, is the only other current red to have won the award. Also among the recipients over the past 10 years are Antonio Valencia (twice), Chris Smalling and Michael Carrick. Bruno Fernandes, two-time Sir Matt Busby’s player of the year, is yet to collect the award as a team-mate but could become popular with his peers this season.

Marcus Rashford is another obvious favorite as he tops the scoring charts and has certainly had his best campaign ever on a personal level. Surprisingly, the striker would be the first local winner since his formative year, 2005/06, when Ryan Giggs earned the accolade.

Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez would become the first Reds to capture the accolade in their rookie season if successful.

Earning the appreciation of your peers must be a special experience for one lucky Red on awards night, which is now a week away. There will also be a Player of the Year award for the women’s team, whose last-minute victory over Manchester City brought the WSL title race on the final day.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE AWARDS EVENING

The ceremony will take place at Old Trafford on Monday, May 29.

It won’t be shown live on MUTV like previous events, but rest assured fans will be able to follow all the big moments via videos on the United app and ManUtd.com.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

2021/22: David De Gea
2020/21: Luke Shaw
2019/20: Antoine Martial
2018/19: Luke Shaw
2017/18: David De Gea