The Scottish Football Writers' Association Young Player of the Year (often called the SFWA Young Player of the Year, or simply the Scottish Young Player of the Year) award is given to the footballer in the Scottish football league system, who is seen to have been the best young (under 23) player of the previous season. The shortlist is compiled by the members of the Scottish Football Writers' Association (the SFWA), who also vote for the winner.
List of winners
As of 2026, the award has been made 25 times and has been won by 22 different players. Kieran Tierney (3) and Steven Fletcher (2) are the only players to have won the award more than once. The award was first made in 2002, and was won by Motherwell forward James McFadden. As of 2019, the award had been restricted to players who are eligible for selection by the Scotland national under-21 football team.
SeasonNatPlayerClubNotes2001–02 Motherwell2002–03Dundee2003–04Heart of Midlothian2004–05Hibernian2005–06Kilmarnock2006–07Hibernian2007–08Hibernian2008–09Hibernian2009–10Rangers2010–11Dundee United2011–12Celtic2012–13Dundee United2013–14St Johnstone2014–15Inverness Caledonian Thistle2015–16Celtic2016–17Celtic2017–18Celtic2018–19Motherwell2019–20Aberdeen2020–21Hibernian2021–22Aberdeen2022–23Motherwell2023–24Kilmarnock2024–25Motherwell2025–26Falkirk
Breakdown of winners Winners by club ClubNumber of winsWinning seasonsHibernian 5 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2020–21 Celtic 4 2011–12, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18 Motherwell 4 2001–02, 2018–19, 2022–23, 2024–25 Aberdeen 2 2019–20, 2021–22 Dundee United 2 2010–11, 2012–13 Kilmarnock 2 2005–06, 2023–24 Falkirk 1 2025–26 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 2014–15 St Johnstone 1 2013–14 Rangers 1 2009–10 Heart of Midlothian 1 2003–04 Dundee 1 2002–03
See also SFWA Footballer of the Year SFWA International Player of the Year SFWA Manager of the Year PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year PFA Scotland Team of the Year Scottish Premier League Yearly Awards
References