The Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year (often called the PFA Team of the Year, or simply the Team of the Year) is an annual award given to a set of 55 footballers across the top four tiers of men's English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, as well as the women's FA WSL, who are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year". Peter Shilton currently holds the most appearances in the PFA Team of the Year in the top division with 10 appearances. Steven Gerrard currently holds the most appearances in the PFA Team of the Year in the Premier League era with eight appearances.
The award has been presented since the 1973–74 season and the shortlist is compiled by the members of the players' trade union, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), in January of every year, with the winners then being voted for by the other players in their respective divisions. The award is regarded by players in the Football League as the highest accolade available to them, due to it being picked by their fellow professionals. Oxford United's Damian Batt, who was named in the Team of the Year for League Two in 2011, said he was "very pleased to be given such a prestigious award. It is something that I am very proud of". In 2014, a team for female players competing in the FA WSL was selected for the first time.
Key Heading key: Pos. – Position; App. – Number of appearances in a PFA Team of the Year. Position key: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward. Players marked appeared in a first tier PFA Team of the Year more than once. Players marked appeared in a second tier PFA Team of the Year more than once. Players marked * appeared in a third tier PFA Team of the Year more than once. Players marked ¤ appeared in a fourth tier PFA Team of the Year more than once.
Winners 1973–74 Source
First Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKPat JenningsTottenham Hotspur1DFPaul MadeleyLeeds United1DFRoy McFarlandDerby County1DFNorman HunterLeeds United1DFColin ToddDerby County1MFBilly BremnerLeeds United1MFTony CurrieSheffield United1MFJohnny GilesLeeds United1FWMick ChannonSouthampton1FWMalcolm MacdonaldNewcastle United1FWAllan ClarkeLeeds United1
Second Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKBryan KingMillwall1DFJohn CraggsMiddlesbrough1DFDavid WatsonSunderland1DFWillie MaddrenMiddlesbrough1DFJohn GormanCarlisle United1MFBruce RiochAston Villa1MFDon MassonNotts County1MFAsa HartfordWest Bromwich Albion1FWDennis TueartSunderland1FWDuncan McKenzieNottingham Forest1FWDon RogersSwindon Town1
Third Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKRoger JonesBlackburn Rovers1DFIan WoodOldham Athletic1DFMel MachinBournemouth1DFBarry SwallowYork City1DFColin SullivanPlymouth Argyle1MFErnie MachinPlymouth Argyle1MFAlan DurbanShrewsbury Town1MFBarry LyonsYork City1FWBruce BannisterBristol Rovers1FWAlan WarboysBristol Rovers1FWPhil BoyerBournemouth1
Fourth Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKSteve DeathReading1DFIan BranfootLincoln City1DFJohn HulmeReading1DFJimmy GilesExeter City1DFDavid PeachGillingham1MFFred HillPeterborough United1MFPaul WalkerPeterborough United1MFBrian GodfreyNewport County1FWFred BinneyExeter City1FWJim HallPeterborough United1FWBrian YeoGillingham1
1974–75 Source
First Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKPeter ShiltonStoke City1DFPaul Madeley Leeds United2DFGordon McQueenLeeds United1DFColin Todd Derby County2DFKevin BeattieIpswich Town1MFBilly BondsWest Ham United1MFColin BellManchester City1MFAlan HudsonStoke City1FWDuncan McKenzie Leeds United2FWBob LatchfordEverton1FWLeighton JamesBurnley1
Second Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKBryan King Millwall2DFJohn GidmanAston Villa1DFDavid Watson Sunderland2DFMartin BuchanManchester United1DFStewart HoustonManchester United1MFLen CantelloWest Bromwich Albion1MFMick ChannonSouthampton2MFBilly Hughes Sunderland1FWRay GraydonAston Villa1FWStuart PearsonManchester United1FWPhil BoyerNorwich City2
Third Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKRoger Jones *Blackburn Rovers2DFAndy BurginBlackburn Rovers1DFGraham HawkinsBlackburn Rovers1DFDerek JeffriesCrystal Palace1DFPhil BurrowsPlymouth Argyle1MFChris TurnerPeterborough United1MFArfon GriffithsWrexham1MFPeter TaylorCrystal Palace1FWPeter EastoeSwindon Town1FWBilly RaffertyPlymouth Argyle1FWAlan BuckleyWalsall1
Fourth Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKPeter GrotierLincoln City1DFSandy PateMansfield Town1DFJimmy Giles ¤Exeter City2DFTrevor StortonChester City1DFJohn BreckinRotherham United1MFBobby DoyleBarnsley1MFAlan DurbanShrewsbury Town2MFGordon HodgsonMansfield Town1FWDerek DraperChester City1FWRay ClarkeMansfield Town1FWPaul StratfordNorthampton Town1
1975–76 Source
First Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKPat Jennings Tottenham Hotspur2DFPaul Madeley Leeds United3DFRoy McFarland Derby County2DFColin Todd Derby County3DFKevin Beattie Ipswich Town2MFKevin KeeganLiverpool1MFDon MassonQueens Park Rangers2MFAlan Hudson Stoke City2FWDuncan McKenzie Leeds United3FWJohn ToshackLiverpool1FWDennis TueartManchester City2
Second Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKJimmy MontgomerySunderland1DFGary LockeChelsea1DFPaul JonesBolton Wanderers1DFGeoff MerrickBristol City1DFJohn Gorman Carlisle United2MFTony TowersSunderland1MFBobby KerrSunderland1MFJohnny GilesWest Bromwich Albion2FWMick Channon Southampton3FWPaul CheesleyBristol City1FWPeter ThompsonBolton Wanderers1
Third Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKEric SteelePeterborough United1DFRay EvansMillwall1DFIan EvansCrystal Palace1DFDerek Jeffries *Crystal Palace2DFClive CharlesCardiff City1MFPeter O'SullivanBrighton & Hove Albion1MFDennis BurnettBrighton & Hove Albion1MFPeter Taylor *Crystal Palace2MFDavid GregoryPeterborough United1FWAlan Buckley *Walsall2FWDixie McNeilHereford United1
Fourth Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKPeter Grotier ¤Lincoln City2DFIan Branfoot ¤Lincoln City2DFSam EllisLincoln City1DFTerry CooperLincoln City1DFPhil SandercockTorquay United1MFGeoff HuttHuddersfield Town1MFIan MillerDoncaster Rovers1MFTony WhelanRochdale1FWJohn WardLincoln City1FWRonnie MooreTranmere Rovers1FWPeter Kitchen Doncaster Rovers1
1976–77 Source
First Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKRay ClemenceLiverpool1DFJohn GidmanAston Villa2DFRoy McFarland Derby County3DFKevin Beattie Ipswich Town3DFMick MillsIpswich Town1MFKevin Keegan Liverpool2MFBrian TalbotIpswich Town1MFTrevor BrookingWest Ham United1FWTrevor FrancisBirmingham City1FWAndy GrayAston Villa1FWDennis Tueart Manchester City3
Second Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKGeorge WoodBlackpool1DFGary Locke Chelsea2DFPaul Jones Bolton Wanderers2DFPaul FutcherLuton Town1DFDavid PeachSouthampton2MFGeorge BestFulham1MFGary StanleyChelsea1MFRay WilkinsChelsea1FWJohn RichardsWolverhampton Wanderers1FWMick Channon Southampton4FWJohn RobertsonNottingham Forest1
Third Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKTom McAlisterRotherham United1DFJohn McMahonPreston North End1DFIan Evans *Crystal Palace2DFGraham CrossBrighton & Hove Albion1DFKenny SansomCrystal Palace1MFArfon Griffiths *Wrexham2MFBrian HortonBrighton & Hove Albion1MFAlan CrawfordRotherham United1FWPeter WardBrighton & Hove Albion1FWBilly AshcroftWrexham1FWAlan Buckley *Walsall3
Fourth Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKTerry PooleHuddersfield Town1DFBrendon BatsonCambridge United1DFLindsay SmithColchester United1DFSteve DowmanColchester United1DFAndy FordSouthend United1MFIan Miller ¤Doncaster Rovers2MFDennis Bond Watford1MFDon HutchinsBradford City1FWAlan CurtisSwansea City1FWBrian JoiceyBarnsley1FWPeter Kitchen ¤Doncaster Rovers2
1977–78 Source
First Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKPeter Shilton Nottingham Forest2DFJohn Gidman Aston Villa3DFGordon McQueen Manchester United2DFMartin BuchanManchester United2DFDerek StathamWest Bromwich Albion1MFSteve CoppellManchester United1MFLiam BradyArsenal1MFTrevor Brooking West Ham United2FWTrevor Francis Birmingham City2FWJoe JordanManchester United1FWJohn Robertson Nottingham Forest2
Second Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKBarry DainesTottenham Hotspur1DFTerry NaylorTottenham Hotspur1DFPaul Jones Bolton Wanderers3DFPaul Futcher Luton Town2DFKenny SansomCrystal Palace2MFGlenn HoddleTottenham Hotspur1MFPeter ReidBolton Wanderers1MFAlan BallSouthampton1FWPeter WardBrighton & Hove Albion2FWJohn DuncanTottenham Hotspur1FWPeter TaylorTottenham Hotspur3
Third Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKDai DaviesWrexham1DFBrendon BatsonCambridge United2DFIan RossPeterborough United1DFChris Turner *Peterborough United2DFKeith KennedyBury1MFMickey ThomasWrexham1MFBobby ShintonWrexham1MFDavid MossSwindon Town1FWAlan Buckley *Walsall4FWDixie McNeil *Wrexham2FWDave KempPortsmouth1
Fourth Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKPeter SpringettBarnsley1DFChris LawlerStockport County1DFSam Ellis ¤Watford2DFMick McCarthyBarnsley1DFKeith PritchettWatford1MFIan Miller ¤Doncaster Rovers3MFRoger JoslynWatford1MFRobbie JamesSwansea City1FWAlan Curtis ¤Swansea City2FWBrendan O'CallaghanDoncaster Rovers1FWAlan MayesWatford1
1978–79 Source
First Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKPeter Shilton Nottingham Forest3DFViv AndersonNottingham Forest1DFDavid O'LearyArsenal1DFDavid WatsonManchester City3DFDerek Statham West Bromwich Albion2MFLiam Brady Arsenal2MFTony Currie Leeds United2MFOsvaldo ArdilesTottenham Hotspur1FWCyrille RegisWest Bromwich Albion1FWKenny DalglishLiverpool1FWLaurie CunninghamWest Bromwich Albion1
Second Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKMark WallingtonLeicester City1DFKevin HirdBlackburn Rovers1DFMark LawrensonBrighton & Hove Albion1DFMike DoyleStoke City1DFKenny Sansom Crystal Palace3MFTrevor BrookingWest Ham United3MFHoward KendallStoke City1MFBrian HortonBrighton & Hove Albion2FWPop RobsonWest Ham United1FWMike FlanaganCharlton Athletic1FWPeter WitheNewcastle United1
Third Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKChris TurnerSheffield Wednesday1DFJohn StirkWatford1DFSteve SimsWatford1DFIan MacDonaldCarlisle United1DFTrevor StortonChester City2DFJohn BreckinRotherham United 2MFBrian HornsbySheffield Wednesday1MFRay McHaleSwindon Town1MFIan CallaghanSwansea City1FWLuther BlissettWatford1FWRoss JenkinsWatford1FWAlan CurtisSwansea City3
Fourth Division Pos.PlayerClubApp.GKSteve Death ¤Reading2DFGary PetersReading1DFSteve FosterPortsmouth1DFMick McCarthy ¤Barnsley2DFKevin MooreGrimsby Town1MFJoe WatersGrimsby Town1MFRichie BowmanReading1MFAlan LittleBarnsley1FWAlan CorkWimbledon1FWLes BraddStockport County1FWAllan ClarkeBarnsley2
Notes
See also PFA Team of the Year (1980s) PFA Team of the Year (1990s) PFA Team of the Year (2000s) PFA Team of the Year (2010s) PFA Team of the Year (2020s)
References
External links The official website of the Professional Footballers' Association