PFAI Young Player of the Year

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The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland Players' Young Player of the Year (often called the PFAI Players' Young Player of the Year, the PFAI Young Player of the Year, or simply the Young Player of the Year) award is given to the footballer in the top-flight of Irish football, the League of Ireland, who is seen to have been the best player of the previous season and is under 23 years of age.

Contents

The shortlist is compiled by the members of the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland (the PFAI), and then the winner is voted for by the other players in the league.

The award was first given in 1982, and was won by Bohemians player Jacko McDonagh. The most recent winner of the PFAI Young Player of the Year award was Mason Melia of St Patrick's Athletic.

UEFA Euro 2016 saw three former winners of the award making appearances at the finals tournament in France, with two of them (Wes Hoolahan of the Republic of Ireland and Niall McGinn of Northern Ireland) scoring goals for their countries.

List of winners

Highlighted players are winning the award for a second time.

2020s

YearPlayerClub
2025 Flag of England.svg Owen Elding Sligo Rovers
2024 Flag of Ireland.svg Mason Melia St Patrick's Athletic
2023 Flag of Ireland.svg Sam Curtis St Patrick's Athletic
2022 Flag of Ireland.svg Andy Lyons Shamrock Rovers
2021 Flag of Ireland.svg Dawson Devoy Bohemians
2020 Flag of Ireland.svg Danny Grant Bohemians

2010s

YearPlayerClub
2019 Flag of Ireland.svg Danny Mandroiu Bohemians
2018 Flag of Ireland.svg Jamie McGrath Dundalk
2017 Flag of Ireland.svg Trevor Clarke Shamrock Rovers
2016 Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Maguire Cork City
2015 Flag of Ireland.svg Brandon Miele Shamrock Rovers
2014 Flag of Ireland.svg Daryl Horgan Dundalk
2013 Flag of Ireland.svg Richie Towell Dundalk
2012 Flag of Ireland.svg Chris Forrester St Patrick's Athletic
2011 Flag of Ireland.svg Enda Stevens Shamrock Rovers
2010 Flag of Ireland.svg Shaun Williams Sporting Fingal

2000s

YearPlayerClub
2009 Flag of Ireland.svg Conor Powell Bohemians
2008 Ulster Banner.svg Niall McGinn Derry City
2007 Flag of Ireland.svg Mark Quigley St Patrick's Athletic
2006 Ulster Banner.svg Kevin Deery Derry City
2005 Ulster Banner.svg Paddy McCourt Derry City
2004 Flag of Ireland.svg Daryl Murphy Waterford United
2003 Flag of Libya.svg Éamon Zayed Bray Wanderers
2003 Flag of Ireland.svg Wes Hoolahan Shelbourne
2002 Flag of Ireland.svg Robbie Martin UCD
2001 Flag of Ireland.svg Richie Foran Shelbourne
2000 Flag of Ireland.svg Richie Baker Shelbourne

1990s

YearPlayerClub
1999 Flag of Ireland.svg Richie Baker Shelbourne
1998 Flag of Ireland.svg Colin Hawkins St Patrick's Athletic
1997 Ulster Banner.svg Gary Beckett Derry City
1996 Flag of Ireland.svg Michael O'Byrne UCD
1995 Flag of Ireland.svg Billy Woods Cork City
1994 Flag of Ireland.svg Jim Crawford Bohemians
1993 Flag of Ireland.svg Richie Purdy Dundalk
1992 Flag of Ireland.svg Tony McCarthy Shelbourne
1991 Flag of Ireland.svg Barry Ryan Limerick
1990 Flag of Ireland.svg Vinny Arkins / Flag of Ireland.svg Tony Cousins Shamrock Rovers / Dundalk

1980s

YearPlayerClub
1989 Ulster Banner.svg Liam Coyle Derry City
1988 Flag of Ireland.svg Paul McGee Bohemians
1987 Flag of Ireland.svg Martin Bayly Sligo Rovers
1986 Flag of Ireland.svg Liam O'Brien Shamrock Rovers
1985 Flag of Ireland.svg Peter Coyle Limerick
1984 Flag of Ireland.svg Joe Hanrahan UCD
1983 Flag of Ireland.svg Ken DeMange Home Farm
1982 Flag of Ireland.svg Jacko McDonagh Bohemians

Breakdown of winners

Winners by club

ClubNumber of wins
Bohemians 7 (1982, 1988, 1994, 2009, 2019, 2020, 2021)
Shamrock Rovers 6 (1986, 1990, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2022)
St Patrick's Athletic 5 (1998, 2007, 2012, 2023, 2024)
Dundalk 5 (1990, 1993, 2013, 2014, 2018)
Derry City 5 (1989, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2008)
Shelbourne 5 (1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003)
UCD 3 (1984, 1996, 2002)
Sligo Rovers 2 (1987, 2025)
Cork City 2 (1995, 2016)
Limerick 2 (1985, 1991)
Sporting Fingal 1 (2010)
Waterford United 1 (2004)
Bray Wanderers 1 (2003)
Home Farm 1 (1983)

Winners by country

CountryNumber of wins
Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland 38 (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 5 (1989, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2008)
Flag of England.svg  England 1 (2025)
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 1 (2003)

Trivia

See also

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