The City centre forward overwhelmingly topped the prestigious poll of the 400-strong FWA membership, garnering more than 80 per cent of all the votes cast, in the wake of what has been a sensational maiden campaign at the Etihad.
Haaland follows in the illustrious footsteps of Club colleague Ruben Dias who won the coveted prize in 2021 and former City star Raheem Sterling who took the award in 2019.
Haaland won by a huge margin after his sensational debut season in England, scoring 51 goals so far for Manchester City as they aim for a remarkable treble. For a while he was neck and neck with Bukayo Saka, but eventually won by the biggest margin since the Premier League began.
Saka’s Arsenal colleague Martin Odegaard came third in the polling, with Kevin De Bruyne of City fourth and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford fifth. 14 other players received votes.
The Norwegian international also becomes only the fourth player to receive the FWA award in their first season playing in England, following Dias (2021), Gianfranco Zola (1997) and Jurgen Klinsmann (1995).
And, in gratefully accepting the award, Erling was typically quick to highlight and praise the major role played by his team-mates along with Pep and his coaching staff in helping him so seamlessly adapt to life at City.
“To win the Football Writers’ Award in my first season in English football is an honour,” Haaland said. “I try every single day to be the best I can be, and to be recognised like this means a lot to me.
“I have loved my time at City so far – my teammates are incredible, and they provide me with the chances to score goals. I want to thank all of them, because I could not have won this award without them.
“I also owe so much to Pep and the team behind the team here at City. Everybody has been so good to me since I joined and I have never worked with such top professionals.
“Thank you to everyone who voted for me. It’s a real honour to have won this award. I am now focused on ensuring I finish the season as strongly as possible and helping City win trophies.”
It’s impossible to overstate the seismic impact made by Haaland since joining City from Borussia Dortmund last summer.
Haaland has emerged as one of the central focal points of a supremely talented City squad that is seeking to claim a third successive Premier League title, is through to a historic all-Manchester FA Cup final and set to lock horns with Real Madrid in next Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg.
Source: soccanews.com