De Bruyne defeats Salah as Premier League player of the Year

DBasia.news – Kevin De Bruyne defeated Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to be crowned Premier League Player of the Year. This is the second time in the Belgian’s career after a superb 2021/22 season with Manchester City.

De Bruyne defeated Salah, who won an award from the Football Writers’ Association earlier this month – to join a rare group of players to win the award twice.

The Belgian star won the award in the 2019/20 season, and this time he has won it again.

De Bruyne admits it was an honor for him to win the award again.

“Winning this award for the second time is an achievement that I am very proud of,” De Bruyne told the club’s official website.

“There is so much quality in the Premier League and it is a pleasure to be nominated alongside so many other great players who have had an incredible season for their club.”

“I think my form this season has been good and I’m delighted to be able to contribute with goals and assists throughout the season. Thanks to all the staff, coaches and especially my team-mates because without them this would not have been possible.”

Apart from Salah, De Bruyne defeated team-mate Joao Cancelo, Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrod Bowen of West Ham, Bukayo Saka of Arsenal, Son Heung-min of Tottenham and James Ward-Prowse of Southampton to win the award.

Surprisingly, while De Bruyne became the first player since Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic to win the award for a second time, it also marked the second time he has failed to land the FWA award, having been beaten in 2019/20 by Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson.

Only last year, when Ruben Dias won both awards, was the winner the same in the last four seasons, with the previous six occasions yielding multiple winners on each occasion.