Since 2003, England has annually announced its Men’s Player of the Year. Previous recipients include well-known names like David Beckham, Frank Lampard, and Bukayo Saka.
For the 2023/24 season, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer won the award. While his talent as one of the Premier League’s rising stars is undeniable, some fans were puzzled by the decision.
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Palmer didn’t start any games at Euro 2024 and has only played 318 minutes for the national team. This raises questions about how the award is determined and what fans think about Palmer being chosen…Continue Reading
Interestingly, the FA introduced a Women’s Player of the Year award in 1999, with the men’s award following in 2003. Originally part of an FA-hosted awards ceremony, the Men’s Player of the Year is now decided by an online vote, where England supporters can cast their vote.
From the 2020/21 season, the award shifted from a yearly to a seasonal honor.
Kalvin Phillips won in 2020/21, followed by Bukayo Saka who claimed the accolade in two consecutive seasons. In 2023/24, Palmer took the top spot, with Jude Bellingham finishing second and Saka third.
Palmer had an exceptional 2023/24 season, starting with a key goal in the UEFA Super Cup for Manchester City, which led to a 5-4 shootout victory over Sevilla.
After this, Palmer made a £40 million move to Chelsea, where he truly shined, scoring 25 goals and providing 15 assists in 48 games. His performances earned him the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.
Palmer’s form with Chelsea also led to his first England cap in November 2023, playing against Malta and North Macedonia.
He continued to impress in the lead-up to Euro 2024 and earned his first England goal in a 3-0 win over Bosnia.
Although Palmer didn’t start any matches at Euro 2024, he made notable contributions off the bench, including an assist in the semi-final against the Netherlands and a crucial equaliser in the final against Spain, where England eventually lost.
Despite limited national team involvement, Palmer’s stellar club season and decisive moments at Euro 2024 likely influenced fans’ votes for the Player of the Year award.
In 2023/24, a grand total of 17 England players played more minutes than Chelsea’s Cole Palmer (318).
