England Men’s Player Of The Year Goes TO Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal was shocked when he received the England Player of the Year award. Bukayo Saka beat Declan Rice and Harry Kane for Player of the Year honors in England.

The Football Association hosts an awards show called The FA England Awards. The FA Women’s Football Awards began in 1999, but the first edition was held on February 3, 2003.

Bukayo Saka Named England Men’s Player of the Year

England Men's Player Of The Year Goes TO Bukayo Saka
Pic Credit: dailycannon.com

The FA honors the best players on the England national team with the Senior Men’s Player of the Year award in football. The award was presented at the end of the calendar year, but starting in 2020–21, it became a seasonal honor. 

Fans of England participate in an online poll on EnglandFootball.com (previously known as TheFA.com).

Saka established himself as one of the most exciting English players on the market by scoring 11 goals and contributing seven assists for Arsenal in the Premier League last season while playing in every game.

His achievements at the club level worked wonders and helped him earn a spot in the England team. Since last September, he has played nine times, making three goals and two assists.

Supporters selected the 21-year-old as the Three Lions’ best player over the previous 12 months.

Bukayo Saka‘s Achievements

The young Arsenal star scored three goals in nine appearances during the international campaign. On his birthday in September of last year, he was voted Man of the Match in a 4-0 victory over Andorra at Wembley.

The honor caps a stellar run for Saka, who has twice been named Arsenal’s Player of the Season and twice been nominated for the Kopa Trophy, which recognizes the world’s top young players under the age of 21.

Bukayo Saka Named England Men's Player of the Year
Pic Credit: theguardian.com

In addition, the young man showed mental toughness far beyond his years by persevering after missing the critical penalty in England’s Euro 2020 final loss to Italy and going on to star for both club and country.

Saka has played for Arsenal his whole professional career and won the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield while constantly developing into one of the team’s most resourceful and prominent players. In 2020–21 and 2021–22, he was chosen as Arsenal’s player of the year.

At various youth levels, Saka played 27 times for England and scored six goals. He was called up to the senior team for the first time on October 1, 2020. He made his first appearance in an exhibition game against Wales eight days later, beginning the match that the squad won 3-0.

Award Ceremony Live

A group of young foundation footballers awarded Saka the award in a false press conference staged by the Three Lions’ media team before England’s Nations League match against Italy on Friday, which is live now on various channels.

Saka, who had formerly played in Watford’s youth teams, entered Arsenal’s Hale End academy when he was seven. Saka was offered a professional contract by Arsenal when he reached 17 and was then promoted to the under-23 team. 

On November 29, 2018, Saka made his senior professional debut for the club in the 68th minute of Arsenal’s Europa League match against Vorskla Poltava as an Aaron Ramsey replacement.

On the 13th of December in the Europa League, Saka made his full home debut for Arsenal against Qaraba. 

Saka debuted in the Premier League on January 1st in a 4-1 victory over Fulham after replacing player Alex Iwobi in the 83rd minute of the game. He participated in the first Premier League game for a player born in the twenty-first century.

Bukayo Saka Got Shocked

When given the gong, he responded, “No way. Honestly, I didn’t expect this. I feel honored. I’m so thrilled that I struggle to express it. All I can truly say is that receiving this prize is lovely. Playing for England is special. There are so many children who want to play football for teams, and it can be incredibly challenging. So, to then be selected to play for your country, it is just a different degree of honor and respect in yourself.”

“So that every time I get to arrive here, put on the shirt, and play at Wembley in front of so many supporters, I’m simply extremely delighted about it. It’s a lovely feeling.”

Since making his senior debut in a 3-0 victory over Wales at Wembley Stadium in October 2020, Saka has earned 18 England caps and scored four goals.  He is the first member of the Arsenal men’s team to win England’s Player of the Year award since the award’s inception in 2003.

Snippets About The player

  • Saka said that if he didn’t become a football player, he would be a basketball player or an actor.
  • Will Smith was his favorite actor when he was younger, and his favorite program was The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. His favorite player is Thierry Henry, who credits Alexis Sanchez as an influence. As an academy player, he even tried to imitate Sanchez’s boots.
  •  Saka cited David Luiz as his former teammate who gave him the greatest career-related assistance, adding “he ended up going out of his way” to support several Arsenal youth players “on and off the field.”
  • Saka is a devout Christian as well.

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