PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year

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PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year
Kieran Tierney (26938128442).jpg
Kieran Tierney won the award three times in consecutive seasons
Awarded forThe outstanding young player in each given Scottish football season
CountryScotland
Presented by PFA Scotland
First award1978
Young Player of the Year Lennon Miller
Most awards Kieran Tierney (3)

The PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year, formerly known as the Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year, is named at the end of every Scottish football season. The members of the Professional Footballers' Association Scotland vote on which of its young members played the best football in the previous year. The award was first given in 1978, to Graeme Payne. The Bulgarian international Stiliyan Petrov was the first non-Scottish player to win the award, when he did so in

Contents

List of winners

The first foreign winner of the award was Stiliyan Petrov, in 2001 Stiliyan Petrov - 2011 (2).jpg
The first foreign winner of the award was Stiliyan Petrov, in 2001
Dundee United left-back Andy Robertson won the award in 2014 Andy Robertson (19596759769).jpg
Dundee United left-back Andy Robertson won the award in 2014

As of 2025, the award has been presented 47 times and won by 42 different players. Kieran Tierney (3), Craig Levein (2), Eoin Jess (2) and Phil O'Donnell (2) are the players who have won the award more than once.

SeasonNatPlayerClubNotesRef
1977–78 Flag of Scotland.svg Graeme Payne Dundee United
1978–79 Flag of Scotland.svg Ray Stewart Dundee United
1979–80 Flag of Scotland.svg John MacDonald Rangers
1980–81 Flag of Scotland.svg Charlie Nicholas Celtic [1]
1981–82 Flag of Scotland.svg Frank McAvennie St Mirren [2]
1982–83 Flag of Scotland.svg Paul McStay Celtic [3]
1983–84 Flag of Scotland.svg John Robertson Heart of Midlothian
1984–85 Flag of Scotland.svg Craig Levein Heart of Midlothian
1985–86 Flag of Scotland.svg Craig Levein Heart of Midlothian
1986–87 Flag of Scotland.svg Robert Fleck Rangers
1987–88 Flag of Scotland.svg John Collins Hibernian
1988–89 Flag of Scotland.svg Billy McKinlay Dundee United
1989–90 Flag of Scotland.svg Scott Crabbe Heart of Midlothian
1990–91 Flag of Scotland.svg Eoin Jess Aberdeen
1991–92 Flag of Scotland.svg Phil O'Donnell Motherwell
1992–93 Flag of Scotland.svg Eoin Jess Aberdeen
1993–94 Flag of Scotland.svg Phil O'Donnell Motherwell
1994–95 Flag of Scotland.svg Charlie Miller Rangers
1995–96 Flag of Scotland.svg Jackie McNamara Celtic
1996–97 Flag of Scotland.svg Robbie Winters Dundee United
1997–98 Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Naysmith Heart of Midlothian
1998–99 Flag of Scotland.svg Barry Ferguson Rangers
1999–00 Flag of Scotland.svg Kenny Miller Hibernian
2000–01 Flag of Bulgaria.svg Stiliyan Petrov Celtic [4]
2001–02 Flag of Scotland.svg Kevin McNaughton Aberdeen [5]
2002–03 Flag of Scotland.svg James McFadden Motherwell [6]
2003–04 Flag of Scotland.svg Stephen Pearson Celtic [7]
2004–05 Flag of Scotland.svg Derek Riordan Hibernian Also won the SFWA award. [8]
2005–06 Flag of Scotland.svg Shaun Maloney Celtic [9]
2006–07 Flag of Scotland.svg Steven Naismith Kilmarnock [10]
2007–08 Flag of Ireland.svg Aiden McGeady Celtic [11]
2008–09 Flag of Ireland.svg James McCarthy Hamilton Academical [11]
2009–10 Flag of Scotland.svg Danny Wilson Rangers Also won the SFWA award. [12]
2010–11 Flag of Scotland.svg David Goodwillie Dundee United Also won the SFWA award. [13]
2011–12 Flag of Scotland.svg James Forrest Celtic Also won the SFWA award. [14]
2012–13 Flag of Scotland.svg Leigh Griffiths Hibernian Also won the SFWA Footballer of the Year award. [15]
2013–14 Flag of Scotland.svg Andrew Robertson Dundee United [16]
2014–15 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jason Denayer Celtic [17]
201516 Flag of Scotland.svg Kieran Tierney Celtic Also won the SFWA award. [18]
201617 Flag of Scotland.svg Kieran Tierney Celtic Also won the SFWA award. [19]
201718 Flag of Scotland.svg Kieran Tierney Celtic Also won the SFWA award. [20]
201819 Flag of England.svg Ryan Kent Rangers [21]
201920 Due to the covid-19 pandemic, PFA Scotland cancelled their awards for the 201920 season. [22]
202021 Flag of Scotland.svg David Turnbull Celtic [23] [24]
202122 Flag of Israel.svg Liel Abada Celtic [25]
202223 Flag of the United States.svg Malik Tillman Rangers [26]
202324 Flag of Scotland.svg David Watson Kilmarnock Also won the SFWA award. [27]
202425 Flag of Scotland.svg Lennon Miller Motherwell Also won the SFWA award. [28]

Breakdown of winners

Winners by club

ClubNumber of winsWinning seasons
Celtic 14 1980–81, 1982–83, 1995–96, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2014–15, 201516, 201617, 201718, 202021, 202122
Rangers 7 1979–80, 1980–87, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2018–19, 202223
Dundee United 6 1977–78, 1978–79, 1988–89, 1996–97, 2010–11, 2013–14
Heart of Midlothian 5 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1997–98
Hibernian 4 1987–88, 1999–00, 2004–05, 2012–13
Motherwell 4 1991–92, 1993–94, 2002–03, 2024–25
Aberdeen 3 1990–91, 1992–93, 2001–02
Kilmarnock 2 2006–07, 2023–24
Hamilton Academical 1 2008–09
St Mirren 1 1981–82

Winners by country

CountryNumber of winsWinning seasons
Scotland 40 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21, 2023–24, 2024–25
Republic of Ireland 2 2007–08, 2008–09
Belgium 1 2014–15
Bulgaria 1 2000–01
England 1 2018–19
Israel 1 2021–22
United States 1 2022–23

See also

References

  1. White, John (2006). The Celtic Football Miscellany. Carlton Books. p. 66. ISBN   1844421627.
  2. "Macca's soft spot". Daily Record. 3 January 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  3. "Paul McStay". Scottish Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  4. "Petrov in double awards chase". BBC Sport. 16 April 2002. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  5. "Season review 2001/02". Scottish Premier League . Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  6. "Season review 2002/03". Scottish Premier League. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  7. "Sutton and Pearson earn Celtic award double". ABC News. 26 April 2004. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  8. Haggerty, Anthony (18 February 2009). "Hibs ace Derek Riordan eyes Scotland return". Daily Record . Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  9. Shaun Maloney at the Scottish Football Association
  10. "Naismith nets young player prize". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 April 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  11. 1 2 "Ireland's James McCarthy is Scotland's "Young Player of the Year"". Football Association of Ireland. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  12. "Davis crowned player of the year". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  13. "David Goodwillie named Scotland's top young player". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  14. "Celtic duo Charlie Mulgrew & James Forrest scoop PFA player of the year awards". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  15. "Motherwell: Michael Higdon named player of the year". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  16. "Andrew Robertson: Dundee United defender wins PFA prize". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  17. "Celtic's Stefan Johansen named Scottish PFA player of the year". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  18. "Leigh Griffiths: Celtic forward named PFA Scotland Player of the Year". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  19. "Scott Sinclair named SPFA player of the year as Celtic win four awards". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  20. "Kris Boyd, John McGinn & Celtic's Scott Brown & James Forrest up for PFA award". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  21. "James Forrest, Steve Clarke & Ryan Kent win PFA Scotland annual awards". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  22. McKay, Gabriel (19 May 2020). "Celtic and Rangers stars in line for end of season gongs as SFWA awards go ahead as planned". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  23. Lindsay, Clive (12 May 2021). "Ali McCann: Celtic aware of 'impressive' St Johnstone midfielder - Kennedy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  24. "Rangers: Steven Gerrard and James Tavernier win PFA Scotland awards". BBC Sport. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  25. "Celtic take five prizes at PFA Scotland awards, including manager of the year". BBC Sport. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  26. "Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi and Caitlin Hayes win PFA Scotland player of the year awards". BBC Sport. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  27. "Lawrence Shankland, David Watson & Rangers trio win PFA awards". BBC Sport. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  28. Wilson, Fraser (4 May 2025). "Every PFA Scotland award winner as John McGlynn pips Brendan Rodgers to make it 2 in a row". Daily Record. Retrieved 5 May 2025.