Why English footballers consider the PFA Team of the Year their highest professional honor

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Every year, professional footballers across England vote for their peers to form the PFA Team of the Year. This accolade, awarded since the 1973–74 season, is considered the most prestigious recognition in the Football League because it is determined by the players themselves rather than external critics or media pundits.

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) manages this annual selection process, which covers the top four tiers of men's English football and the women's FA WSL. Each January, members of the players' trade union compile a shortlist. Subsequently, players within their respective divisions cast votes to determine the final team members. This peer-to-peer recognition is highly valued; for instance, Oxford United's Damian Batt expressed significant pride after his 2011 inclusion in the League Two team, describing the honor as prestigious.

The scope of the award has evolved over time. While the men's teams have been recognized for decades, the PFA introduced a dedicated team for female players in the FA WSL starting in 2014. The selection process results in a total of 55 footballers being honored annually across the various leagues. These teams are categorized by position, including goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards, with specific markers used to denote players who have achieved multiple appearances within their respective tiers.

Individual records highlight the consistency required to be repeatedly selected for these teams. Peter Shilton holds the record for the most appearances in the top division with 10 selections. Within the modern Premier League era, Steven Gerrard leads with eight appearances. These statistics underscore the longevity and sustained performance expected of players who frequently appear in these annual lineups, cementing their status among their professional colleagues throughout the history of the award.

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