PFA Merit Award

Template:Use dmy dates The Professional Footballers' Association Merit Award (often called the PFA Merit Award, or simply the Merit Award) is an award given by the Professional Footballers' Association (the PFA) for meritorious service to football.

The award was first given in 1974, and was won (jointly) by Bobby Charlton and Cliff Lloyd. The first woman to win the award was Steph Houghton in 2019. In 2022, the award was separated into two: women's and men's.

The most recent winners of the award are Fara Williams and Dean Lewington.

List of winners

1970s

Year	Winner(s)	Note
1974	Template:Flagicon Sir Bobby Charlton CBE, OBE	First winners of the award
	Template:Flagicon Cliff Lloyd
1975	Template:Flagicon Denis Law CBE	First winner of the award from outside England
1976	Template:Flagicon George Eastham OBE
1977	Template:Flagicon Jack Taylor OBE
1978	Template:Flagicon Bill Shankly OBE
1979	Template:Flagicon Sir Tom Finney OBE

1980s

Year	Winner(s)	Notes
1980	Template:Flagicon Sir Matt Busby OBE
1981	Template:Flagicon John Trollope MBE
1982	Template:Flagicon Joe Mercer OBE
1983	Template:Flagicon Bob Paisley OBE
1984	Template:Flagicon Bill Nicholson OBE
1985	Template:Flagicon Ron Greenwood CBE
1986	Template:Flagicon England World Cup squad 1966
1987	Template:Flagicon Sir Stanley Matthews CBE
1988	Template:Flagicon Billy Bonds MBE
1989	Template:Flagicon Nat Lofthouse OBE

1990s

Year	Winner(s)	Notes
1990	Template:Flagicon Peter Shilton OBE
1991	Template:Flagicon Tommy Hutchison
1992	Template:Flagicon Brian Clough OBE
1993	Template:Flagicon Manchester United European Cup squad 1968	Template:Flagicon Shay Brennan and Template:Flagicon Tony Dunne Joint first winner of the award from outside Great Britain Joint first winner of the award from outside the United Kingdom
	Template:Flagicon Eusébio	Joint first winner of the award from outside Great Britain Joint first winner of the award from outside the United Kingdom
1994	Template:Flagicon Billy Bingham MBE
1995	Template:Flagicon Gordon Strachan OBE
1996	Template:Flagicon Pelé	First winner of the award from outside Europe
1997	Template:Flagicon Peter Beardsley MBE
1998	Template:Flagicon Steve Ogrizovic
1999	Template:Flagicon Tony Ford MBE

2000s

Year	Winner(s)	Notes
2000	Template:Flagicon Gary Mabbutt MBE
2001	Template:Flagicon Jimmy Hill OBE
2002	Template:Flagicon Niall Quinn
2003	Template:Flagicon Sir Bobby Robson CBE
2004	Template:Flagicon Dario Gradi MBE
2005	Template:Flagicon Shaka Hislop CM
2006	Template:Flagicon George Best
2007	Template:Flagicon Sir Alex Ferguson CBE
2008	Template:Flagicon Jimmy Armfield OBE
2009	Template:Flagicon John McDermott

2010s

Year	Winner(s)	Notes
2010	Template:Flagicon Lucas Radebe
2011	Template:Flagicon Howard Webb
2012	Template:Flagicon Graham Alexander
2013	Manchester United Class of '92
2014	Template:Flagicon Donald Bell VC
2015	Template:Flagicon Steven Gerrard MBE
	Template:Flagicon Frank Lampard OBE
2016	Template:Flagicon Ryan Giggs OBE
2017	Template:Flagicon David Beckham OBE
2018	Template:Flagicon Cyrille Regis MBE
2019	Template:Flagicon Steph Houghton MBE	First female to receive award.

2020s

Year	Winner(s)	Notes
2020	Template:Flagicon Marcus Rashford MBE
2021	Template:Flagicon Gordon Taylor OBE
2022	Template:Flagicon Roy Hodgson CBE
	Template:Flagicon Hope Powell OBE	First time men's and women's PFA Merit awards were separated
2023	Template:Flagicon Ian Wright OBE
	Template:Flagicon Jill Scott MBE
2024	Template:Flagicon Dean Lewington
	Template:Flagicon Fara Williams MBE

Breakdown of winners

Winners by country

Country	Number of wins
{{ Template:Yesno	alias = England	flag alias = Flag of England.svg	flag alias-naval = English White Ensign 1620.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Navy	flag alias-navy = English White Ensign 1620.svg	link alias-navy = Royal Navy	link alias-cricket = England cricket team	empty = England Saxons	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football }} || width="25px"| 37
{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Scotland	flag alias = Flag of Scotland.svg	flag alias-1542 = Flag of Scotland (traditional).svg	link alias-football = Scotland men's national football team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || 7
{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Northern Ireland	flag alias = Ulster Banner.svg	flag alias-assembly = Flag of Northern Ireland Assembly.svg	flag alias-saltire = St Patrick's saltire.svg	flag alias-union = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || 2
{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Trinidad and Tobago	flag alias = Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg	flag alias-colonial = Flag of Trinidad and Tobago (1889–1958).svg	flag alias-1958 = Flag of Trinidad and Tobago (1958–1962).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Trinidad and Tobago.svg	link alias-naval = Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard.svg	Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard	flag alias-army = Flag of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment.svg	link alias-army = Trinidad and Tobago Regiment	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Trinidad and Tobago.svg	link alias-navy = Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || rowspan="7" | 1
{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Italy	flag alias = Flag of Italy.svg	flag alias-1861 = Flag of Italy (1861–1946).svg	flag alias-1943 = War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg	flag alias-2003 = Flag of Italy (2003–2006).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Italy.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Italy.svg	flag alias-navy-1947 = Naval Ensign of Italy (1947-2013).svg	link alias-naval = Italian Navy	link alias-air force = Italian Air Force	link alias-army = Italian Army	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Italy.svg	link alias-navy = Italian Navy	link alias-roller hockey = Italy {{{mw}}} national roller hockey team	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football }}
{{safesubst: Template:Yesno	alias = Republic of Ireland	shortname alias = Ireland	flag alias = Flag of Ireland.svg	link alias-naval = Irish Naval Service	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Irish Air Corps.svg	link alias-air force = Irish Air Corps	flag alias-army = Flag of the Irish Defence Forces.svg	link alias-army = Irish Army	link alias-navy = Irish Naval Service	link alias-football = Republic of Ireland national football team	name alias-football = Republic of Ireland	link alias-futsal = Republic of Ireland national football team	name alias-futsal = Republic of Ireland	link alias-beachsoccer = Republic of Ireland national football team	name alias-beachsoccer = Republic of Ireland	flag alias-rugby union = Flag placeholder.svg	border-rugby union =	flag alias-cricket = Flag placeholder.svg	border-cricket =	link alias-netball = Republic of Ireland national netball team	name alias-netball = Republic of Ireland	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }}
{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Brazil	flag alias-1692 = Flag of the Princes of Brazil.svg	flag alias-1816 = Flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.svg	flag alias-1822 = Flag of Brazil (1822-1853).svg	flag alias-1870 = Flag of Brazil (1853-1889).svg	flag alias = Flag of Brazil.svg	flag alias-1889 = Flag of Brazil (1889–1960).svg	flag alias-1960 = Flag of Brazil (1960–1968).svg	flag alias-1968 = Flag of Brazil (1968–1992).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Brazilian Army.svg	link alias-army = Brazilian Army	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Brazilian Air Force Command.svg	link alias-air force = Brazilian Air Force	link alias-naval = Brazilian Navy	flag alias-marines=Flag of the Brazilian Marine Corps.svg	link alias-marines=Brazilian Marine Corps	link alias-military = Brazilian Armed Forces	link alias-navy = Brazilian Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Brazilian Navy.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}
{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Portugal	flag alias = Flag of Portugal.svg	flag alias-1248 = PortugueseFlag1248.svg	flag alias-1385 = PortugueseFlag1385.svg	flag alias-1495 = Flag Portugal (1495).svg	flag alias-1578 = Flag Portugal (1578).svg	flag alias-1640 = Flag Portugal (1640).svg	flag alias-1707 = Flag Portugal (1707).svg	flag alias-1750 = Flag of Portugal (1750).svg	flag alias-1816 = Flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.svg	flag alias-1830 = Flag Portugal (1830).svg	flag alias-civil = Flag Portugal sea (1830).svg	flag alias-air force=Portugal Air force fin flash.svg	flag alias-army = Military flag of Portugal.svg	link alias-air force = Portuguese Air Force	link alias-army = Portuguese Army	link alias-naval = Portuguese Navy	flag alias-navy=Naval Jack of Portugal.svg	link alias-navy = Portuguese Navy	flag alias-marines=Naval Jack of Portugal.svg	link alias-marines=Portuguese Marine Corps	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}
{{ Template:Yesno	alias = South Africa	flag alias = Flag of South Africa.svg	flag alias-1795 = Flag of Great Britain (1707–1800).svg	flag alias-1801 = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-1857 = Flag of Transvaal.svg	flag alias-1875 = Flag of the Natal Colony (1875–1910).svg	flag alias-1876 = Flag of the Cape Colony 1876-1910.svg	flag alias-1902 = Flag of Orange River Colony.svg	flag alias-1910 = South Africa Flag 1910-1912.svg	flag alias-1912 = Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg	flag alias-1928 = Flag of South Africa (1928–1982).svg	flag alias-1982 = Flag of South Africa (1982–1994).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg	flag alias-naval-1922 = Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-naval-1946 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1946-1951).svg	flag alias-naval-1951 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1951-1952).svg	flag alias-naval-1952 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1952-1981).svg	flag alias-naval-1981 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1981-1994).svg	flag alias-marines=Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg	link alias-marines=South African Maritime Reaction Squadron	link alias-naval = South African Navy	flag alias-air force = Ensign of the South African Air Force.svg	flag alias-air force-1940 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1940-1951.svg	flag alias-air force-1951 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1951-1958.svg	flag alias-air force-1958 = Ensign of the South African Air Force (1958-1967, 1970-1981).svg	flag alias-air force-1967 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1967-1970.svg	flag alias-air force-1981 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1981-1982.svg	flag alias-air force-1982 = Ensign of the South African Air Force (1982-1994).svg	flag alias-air force-1994 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1994-2003.svg	link alias-air force = South African Air Force	flag alias-army = Flag of the South African Army.svg	flag alias-army-1951 = Flag of the South African Army (1951–1966).png	flag alias-army-1966 = Flag of the South African Army (1966–1973).png	flag alias-army-1973 = Flag of the South African Army (1973–1994).svg	flag alias-army-1981 = Ensign of the South African Defence Force (1981-1994).svg	flag alias-army-1994 = Flag of the South African Army (1994–2002).svg	flag alias-army-2002 = Flag of the South African Army (2002–2003).svg	link alias-army = South African Army	flag alias-military = Flag of the South African National Defence Force.svg	link alias-military = South African National Defence Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg	link alias-navy = South African Navy	link alias-football = South Africa national soccer team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }}
{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Wales	flag alias = Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg	flag alias-1807 = Flag of Wales (1807–1953).svg	flag alias-1953 = Flag of Wales (1953–1959).svg	flag alias-1959 = Flag of Wales (1959).svg	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team }}

External links

• The Official Website of the Professional Footballer's Association