Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey has been named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Women’s Player of the Year, while her new teammate Olivia Smith collected the Young Player of the Year prize.
United States coach Emma Hayes received the PFA Merit Award in recognition of her contributions to women’s football during a glittering career at Chelsea.
Caldentey, 29, scored 19 goals in 41 appearances in her first season with Arsenal after joining from Barcelona, including nine goals and five assists in the Women’s Super League (WSL).
The Spain international, who was also voted WSL Player of the Year by supporters in May, played a key role in Arsenal’s Champions League triumph over her former club Barcelona.
“There is nothing better than when your opponents recognise your job,” Caldentey told BBC Sport after receiving her first PFA award. “It feels nice but I want to win trophies with the club.”
She beat Arsenal teammate Alessia Russo, Manchester City duo Mary Fowler and Yui Hasegawa, Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert and Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce to the honour.
Smith Makes History
Canada forward Smith, 21, became the first foreign player to win the Young Player of the Year award. She described the accolade as a “huge privilege,” adding: “Whenever I go home, it’s so cool to see the girls inspired by me. Being a role model is massive and I want this to help other girls and boys.”
Smith became the most expensive signing in women’s football history this summer, joining Arsenal for £1m ($1.35m) from Liverpool. Last season she scored nine goals in 20 WSL matches for the Reds, having joined from Sporting Lisbon for just over £200,000 the previous year.
Also shortlisted for the award were Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones, Maika Hamano and Weikie Kaptein; Manchester United midfielder Grace Clinton, last year’s winner; and City’s Fowler.
Hayes Honoured
Hayes, 48, who guided Chelsea to 16 trophies during her 12-year spell in charge, was recognised with the Merit Award. She led the United States to Olympic gold in Paris last year and has long been an advocate for women’s health, pushing for greater research into menstrual cycles, nutrition, and ACL injuries in female athletes.
She has twice been named FIFA’s Best Women’s Coach and is a six-time WSL Manager of the Season.
Arsenal Dominate Team of the Year
Champions League winners Arsenal had four players included in the PFA Women’s Super League Team of the Year: Caldentey, Emily Fox, Kim Little and Russo.
They were joined by Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Maya Le Tissier and Jayde Riviere, Chelsea’s Millie Bright and Erin Cuthbert, and Manchester City’s Fowler and Hasegawa.
PFA WSL Team of the Year
Goalkeeper: Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United)
Defenders: 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)
Source: BBC
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