Mohamed Salah first African to win Footballer of the Year award | OneFootball

Mohamed Salah has won another individual award for his fantastic season with Liverpool

The Egyptian international has won the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award, adding to the PFA Player of the Year award he was presented with just over a week ago.

Salah has become the 21st player to win both awards in the same season since the PFA award was first given out in 1974.

Votes were placed by over 400 FWA members but fewer than 20 votes separated Salah and runner-up Kevin De Bruyne. Tottenham striker Harry Kane finished in third.

“It’s been the tightest call since 1968/69, when there was a dead heat between Tony Book of Manchester City and Derby’s Dave Mackay,” said FWA chairman Patrick Barclay.

“Right up to the last week or so we thought it might happen again, so strong was the support for Kevin de Bruyne, but Mo Salah’s relentless match-winning form, exemplified by his two great goals against Roma, seems to have swung the vote by a very narrow margin.

“What a race it has been between two players who, in a relatively short time, have reached genuine world class. But Mo Salah is the worthiest of winners. He is also the first African to receive the award and we congratulate him on a magnificent season.”

There were also votes for Sergio Agüero, Christian Eriksen, Roberto Firmino, Nick Pope, David Silva, Raheem Sterling and Jan Vertonghen.