Leicester star named on nine-person shortlist for footballer of the year
By Alice Wright
A Leicester City star has been named on a nine-person shortlist for the Mirror’s fans’ footballer of the year award for 2022. Here are the details via Foxes of Leicetser.
James Maddison has been named alongside Women’s European Championship winner Beth Mead, Premier League winner Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah. Salah has already won the award twice and faces strong competition to complete a hat-trick of Fans’ Footballer of the Year awards.
More than 135 000 fans voted last year, with 61 per cent of the votes going to the Liverpool forward to retain his title after picking up the award in 2020. Journalists nominated players from the top flight in both the men’s and women’s game, which was then reduced to a nine-player shortlist.
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The full final list of nominations includes:
- Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
- Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
- James Maddison (Leicester City)
- Beth Mead (Arsenal)
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
FoL choose some of the most likely winners to discuss. Among the candidates is ‘Madders’.
James Maddison of Leicester City
Maddison has forced his way into the England squad and onto the plane to Qatar. The magical midfielder made himself impossible to ignore after recording seven goals and four assists in a Leicester City side who were really struggling for form. This carried on from the end of the 2021/22 season where he scored four goals and provided three assists in Leicester’s last four Premier League games.
Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgium midfielder won his fourth league title with Man City and was also named Premier League player of the season for the second time. He has managed three goals and nine assists in the Premier League so far, whilst also striking up an incredible partnership with Erling Haaland. His form also allowed him secure third place in the Ballon d’Or.
Beth Mead
The Arsenal and Lionesses’ forward has had an impressive year, breaking Jimmy Greaves’ 61-year record of most goals scored in a season by an England player. Whilst also winning the golden boot and player of the tournament as England secured Euros victory. Mead also became the WSL’s all-time assists provider and finished second in the Ballon d’Or and UEFA player of the year. What a list of achievements and what a year!
Erling Haaland
Before the final matches ahead of the World Cup break the Norwegian forward had scored more goals than 10 Premier League teams. So far, the 22 year old powerhouse has scored 18 goals in 13 games in the Premier League, which is only four away from the 22 netted for Borussia Dortmund in the whole of their 2021/22 season in the Bundesliga. The scary thought is he might not have hit his peak form just yet and could finish the season having scored more goals than a whole Premier League side.
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To vote for your 2022 Footballer of the Year use the link here. The winner is set to be announced on the 19th December.