• Manchester City's Fernandinho lifts the Premier League trophy at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Reuters
    Manchester City's Fernandinho lifts the Premier League trophy at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Reuters
  • Manchester City players lift the Premier League Trophy at the Etihad Stadium. PA
    Manchester City players lift the Premier League Trophy at the Etihad Stadium. PA
  • Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the Premier League medal at the Etihad Stadium. PA
    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the Premier League medal at the Etihad Stadium. PA
  • Manchester City players lifts the Premier League trophy at Etihad Stadium. Getty
    Manchester City players lifts the Premier League trophy at Etihad Stadium. Getty
  • Manchester City's striker Sergio Aguero, centre, celebrates scoring the team's fourth goal against Everton in what was his last league match at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, May 23, 2021. AFP
    Manchester City's striker Sergio Aguero, centre, celebrates scoring the team's fourth goal against Everton in what was his last league match at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, May 23, 2021. AFP
  • Kevin de Bruyne of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's opening goal against Everton. EPA
    Kevin de Bruyne of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's opening goal against Everton. EPA
  • Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates with teammate Kevin De Bruyne after scoring against Everton at Etihad Stadium . Getty
    Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates with teammate Kevin De Bruyne after scoring against Everton at Etihad Stadium . Getty
  • Manchester City's striker Sergio Aguero scores their fifth at the Etihad Stadium. AFP
    Manchester City's striker Sergio Aguero scores their fifth at the Etihad Stadium. AFP
  • Manchester City fans wave flags during the match against Everton at the Etihad Stadium. PA
    Manchester City fans wave flags during the match against Everton at the Etihad Stadium. PA
  • Sergio Aguero prepares to come on as a substitute during his last game as a Manchester City player. Reuters
    Sergio Aguero prepares to come on as a substitute during his last game as a Manchester City player. Reuters
  • Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring the second goal. PA
    Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring the second goal. PA
  • Manchester City fans show their support by holding up a Premier League champions banner at the Etihad Stadium. Getty
    Manchester City fans show their support by holding up a Premier League champions banner at the Etihad Stadium. Getty
  • Manchester City's midfielder Phil Foden celebrates scoring their third goal. AFP
    Manchester City's midfielder Phil Foden celebrates scoring their third goal. AFP
  • Everton's Jordan Pickford had a forgettable day on Sunday. Reuters
    Everton's Jordan Pickford had a forgettable day on Sunday. Reuters
  • Manchester City fans had a day to remember at the Etihad Stadium. EPA
    Manchester City fans had a day to remember at the Etihad Stadium. EPA

Football

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias named Premier League Player of the Season

Centre-back becomes second Portuguese player after Cristiano Ronaldo to receive the honour

The National

June 05, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The accolades continued to pour in for Manchester City as defender Ruben Dias was named Premier League Player of the Season for the 2020/21 campaign on Saturday.

Dias, 24, became only the second Portuguese player to receive the honour after Cristiano Ronaldo won the award with Manchester United in 2006/07 and 2007/08.

City manager Pep Guardiola won the Manager of the Season award.

Centre-back Dias played a crucial role in helping City lift their third Premier League title in four years along with the League Cup. Guardiola's team also made it to the Champions League final.

Dias beat competition from his teammate Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, Bruno Fernandes, Harry Kane, Mason Mount, Jack Grealish and Tomas Soucek to seal the award.

He is the fourth defender to receive the honour after Nemanja Vidic, former City captain Vincent Kompany and Virgil Van Dijk.

Dias has already been named Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association (FWA), becoming the first defender to win that award in 32 years.

It was another feather in the cap for City after they dominated the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) team of the year list.

Goalkeeper Ederson, defenders Joao Cancelo, John Stones, and Dias, plus midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan were named in the team voted for by fellow players.

Guardiola's team finished 12 points clear of Manchester United to win the league title in convincing fashion.

City also conceded the fewest number of goals, 32, and kept clean sheets in 19 games as Ederson won the Golden Glove for the second year running.

Tottenham's Kane clinched the Golden Boot after scoring 23 goals.

City dominate PFA Team of the Year

  • PFA TEAM OF THE YEAR: GOALKEEPER - Manchester City's Ederson. PA
    PFA TEAM OF THE YEAR: GOALKEEPER - Manchester City's Ederson. PA
  • DEFENDERS - Joao Cancelo of Manchester City. PA
    DEFENDERS - Joao Cancelo of Manchester City. PA
  • Manchester City's John Stones. PA
    Manchester City's John Stones. PA
  • Manchester City's Ruben Dias. EPA
    Manchester City's Ruben Dias. EPA
  • Manchester United's Luke Shaw. Reuters
    Manchester United's Luke Shaw. Reuters
  • MIDFIELDERS: Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne. AFP
    MIDFIELDERS: Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne. AFP
  • Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan. Reuters
    Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan. Reuters
  • Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes. Reuters
    Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes. Reuters
  • FORWARDS: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur. Getty
    FORWARDS: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur. Getty
  • Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. Getty
    Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. Getty
  • Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min. PA
    Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min. PA
Manchester City