In a landmark moment for Manchester football, Bruno Fernandes has been crowned the FWA Footballer of the Year, while Bunny Shaw secured the women's award, completing a historic double for the city's two powerhouse clubs.
Manchester United's captain has been in scintillating form this season, earning the prestigious honor with an impressive 45% of the vote. The Portuguese playmaker edged out Arsenal's Declan Rice by a narrow margin of 28 votes in what became a two-horse race for the men's award. Fernandes has been the creative heartbeat of United's resurgence, racking up 19 Premier League assists with three games still to play—putting him on track to match the legendary Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne's single-season record of 20.
United's climb up the Premier League table has been powered by Fernandes at his absolute peak, and his leadership has been instrumental in securing Champions League football for next season. In a telling statistic, Fernandes was the only United player to receive a single vote from the FWA's 900-plus members, making him the club's first recipient of this accolade since Wayne Rooney in 2010. Rice finished as runner-up, with Bukayo Saka, David Raya, and Gabriel also receiving recognition, while Manchester City's Erling Haaland placed third as he continues his pursuit of the Golden Boot.
Across town, Bunny Shaw has been rewriting the record books in her own right. The Manchester City striker claimed the women's award for the second time, powered by her 19 goals that have been crucial in ending Chelsea's decade-long dominance of the Women's Super League. Shaw has led the WSL scoring charts with another outstanding campaign, helping City secure their first league title in ten years. Arsenal's Alessia Russo—last year's winner—finished as runner-up, while Chelsea's Lauren James rounded out the top three.
For fans looking to celebrate these historic achievements, now is the perfect time to gear up in your club's colors and honor the players who are defining this golden era of Manchester football.