The Athletic UK’s 2021-22 Season Awards

Now the 2021-22 domestic campaign has drawn to a close, The Athletic hosted our own awards night to celebrate the players and managers who have excelled over the last nine months.

From the Premier League to Serie A, the Women’s Super League to La Liga, we’ve got you covered. Our team of writers and editors voted for those who have stood out the most this season and the results were announced live on social media channels on May 27.

The Athletic UK’s End of Season Awards Show 🏆 https://t.co/SZrmRmAJex

— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) May 26, 2022

So, on with the winners — let us know in the comments if you agree with our choices…

Premier League Player of the Season: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Manchester City have always seemed to cope without Kevin De Bruyne no matter how good he is, which is remarkable really.

In 2018-19, he was injured for large parts and at the start and end of 2021, spanning last season and this, he had a few different problems and City were just fine. They won all three of those titles, after all.

And yet it feels like in the past few months he has been truly indispensable, fighting his way back into the City line-up over Christmas and ensuring they could not even think about playing without him.

“Beyond perfect” is how Pep Guardiola described the Belgian’s second half of the season, which featured 10 goals and seven assists, including the one that allowed Ilkay Gundogan to tap home the goal that clinched the title on a day of drama last Sunday.

Guardiola says that De Bruyne now realises how nice it is to score goals himself rather than assist them, but the midfielder still prefers to put things on a plate for others. The thought of what he could do with Erling Haaland next season is pretty frightening.

Sam Lee

WSL Player of the Season: Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

With her tongue hanging out, Kerr skipped up to the Chelsea staff and high-fived them all before letting out a roar of excitement, accidentally forgetting to pick up her Women’s Super League medal on the way.

That display of infectious charisma showed she’s enjoying what she’s doing at Chelsea. Kerr has provided moments of magic and is pure class — a big player for the big stage, she’s decisive in key moments and delivers when it matters.

“I don’t know what words I can use to sum this player up beside me, apart from being the best babysitter in the world,” said manager Emma Hayes as her son Harry sat on Kerr’s lap on the day they lifted the WSL title.

Charlotte Harpur

Premier League Young Player of the Season: Phil Foden (Manchester City)

Remember when we worried for Phil Foden? Remember when Pep Guardiola’s sparing use of the youngster — just 12 Premier League starts before his teens were out — felt like a cause for concern?

Foden will turn 22 on Saturday and will do so as the proud owner of four Premier League winner’s medals. He contributed only fleetingly to those first two successes, in 2018 and 2019, but over the past two seasons, he has emerged as an integral part of Guardiola’s team, as he was always destined to.

He is a prodigious talent who is developing into just the kind of footballer Guardiola adores: not just technically gifted and quick-footed, but blessed with the type of game intelligence that is so rare in one so young.

Guardiola has played him in a variety of roles this season, often at the expense of Jack Grealish or Raheem Sterling in the forward line, and Foden has risen to meet the coach’s every expectation. Does a deeper role beckon? Sooner or later, perhaps, but by this stage, we should probably accept that he and Guardiola know what they are doing.

Oliver Kay

WSL Young Player of the Season: Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)

It has not been the most straightforward Manchester City season in recent memory — certainly, they made harder work of securing their Champions League spot than Chelsea or Arsenal — but despite the team’s struggles, Lauren Hemp has offered compelling evidence to suggest why, still only 21, she is one of the most exciting talents in the WSL.

Her raw pace and invention have been among City’s greatest assets, and no player deserves greater credit for helping them into third place.

This season has also brought a debut England goal, an England hat-trick and a second FA Cup final goal. Naturally, the hope is that City’s League Cup win, as well as national team silverware at the four-team invitational Arnold Clark Cup in February, preludes greater glory this summer.

Katie Whyatt

Premier League Manager of the Season: Thomas Frank (Brentford)

Following their 2-1 defeat to Leeds United on the final day of the season there was a feeling of disappointment in Brentford’s dressing room.

Although they finished 13th in their first campaign in the top flight since 1947, the squad were desperate to end up in the top half of the table.

That burning ambition to reach new heights constantly has been drilled into the players by Thomas Frank and tells you everything you need to know about the winner of The Athletic’s 2021-22 Manager of the Season award.

If Brentford had finished 17th it would have been impressive, yet under Frank, they ended up 11 points clear of the relegation zone. Brentford finished third in the Championship in 2020-21 and were promoted via the play-offs but in the top flight this season, they collected more points (46) than Norwich City and Watford — who finished above them last year — combined (45).

The fact Frank has done this while still keeping Brentford an innovative and exciting team to watch makes it all even more special.

Jay Harris

WSL Manager of the Season: Emma Hayes (Chelsea)

Hayes is not just a football coach — she is a brilliant manager of human beings. She knows what each member of her squad needs, how they operate differently from one another and how to get the best out of them individually and as a group.

She has been under pressure this season. Arsenal were leading the way for the majority of the season and Chelsea knew they couldn’t slip up. Despite injuries to key players and the small matter of sanctions and a takeover, Hayes managed to steer her side to a third consecutive WSL title, their fourth in five years.

Charlotte Harpur

Individual Performance of the Season: Kevin De Bruyne vs Wolves

Raheem Sterling ruined it.

His one-yard tap-in added a late fifth goal for Manchester City, eradicating the “Wolves 1-4 Kevin De Bruyne” scoreline.

Semantics aside, this was perfection.

De Bruyne scored a hat-trick in the space of 17 minutes. He scored again in the second half, he hit the post and he played Phil Foden in on goal (who also hit the post) — he toyed with Wolves, prising their defence apart, his pure white boots clearing the path open like a wizard’s staff.

“Unstoppable, brilliant, awesome, outstanding, perfect” were Pep Guardiola’s five chosen post-match adjectives. He only missed one: genius.

Tim Spiers

Premier League Goal of the Season: Mohamed Salah vs Manchester City

It was the work of a genius operating at the peak of his powers.

When Mohamed Salah received the ball from Curtis Jones with his back to goal just outside the penalty area at Anfield last October, Manchester City appeared to have the situation under control.

But there was the show of strength to hold off Joao Cancelo and turn, which was followed by the burst of acceleration and the exquisite technique of quickly shifting the ball from left foot to right to get away from Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.

Still, City had cover. However, Aymeric Laporte was left red-faced as Salah darted inside and then out before slamming a shot beyond Ederson. It was majestic.

“Only the best players in the world score goals like that,” purred Jurgen Klopp. “In 50 or 60 years, they will remember this goal.”

James Pearce

Underrated Player of the Season: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)

It has been a breakout season for Jarrod Bowen, culminating in an England call-up.

The winger amassed 18 goals and 13 assists in 51 cup and league appearances in 2021-22. Bowen played an important role in West Ham United reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League, scoring three goals in the competition. He has unofficially been christened “Arjen Bowen” by supporters at the London Stadium — and his efforts off the field led to a huge improvement.

The 25-year-old joined from Hull City in January 2020. In his debut season, he registered eight league goals in 38 appearances but was often the first player to be withdrawn during matches by manager David Moyes. Bowen was keen to address this and often stayed behind after training with coaches to improve his game.

Staff showed Bowen video clips of former Bayern Munich wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. It had the desired effect, with Bowen consistently impressing on the offensive end.

Fast toward to 2022 and the winger was named Players’ Player of the Year by West Ham supporters, and has earned his first England senior call-up. It comes as no surprise that Liverpool and Manchester United have him on their radar.

Roshane Thomas

Bundesliga Player of the Season: Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

Christopher Nkunku’s 2021-22 season at RB Leipzig was far more than the best of his fledgling career — it was the kind of campaign most players dream of having.

A remarkable haul of 20 goals and 15 assists in the Bundesliga helped Leipzig salvage fourth after a slow start. It also helped the Frenchman earn his first call-up to the national team, one that regular Bundesliga viewers will say was long overdue.

The 24-year-old’s skill on the ball, composure in front of goal and intelligent movement off the last shoulder of the defender make him so difficult to stop. Given that he won the league’s player of the month award a record four times in one campaign, this player of the season award is well deserved. Europe’s top clubs are very aware of the next great Frenchman in town.

Jonathan Harding

Bundesliga Young Player of the Season: Nico Schlotterbeck (Freiburg)

As the defensive star in Freiburg’s side, Nico Schlotterbeck has had a breakout season — one that saw him earn his first Germany cap and a move to Borussia Dortmund.

He was in the top six in the Bundesliga for challenges won, scored four goals and was named in the league’s team of the year. The 22-year-old’s speed is perhaps underappreciated and he already boasts a passing ability from the central defensive position that can be a decisive factor in a team’s build-up play. After a rapid season of development, Schlotterbeck is unlikely to make a similar jump again, but he’s ready for the next step with Borussia Dortmund, who he will join this summer.

Jonathan Harding

La Liga Player of the Season: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Karim Benzema scored eight goals and registered seven assists in the first six La Liga games as Real Madrid took control of the title race from the off. He has been just as influential all through the campaign, hitting the winner at closest chasers Sevilla in mid-April that all but clinched the trophy.

A tally of 27 goals and 12 assists in 32 games is not even the full story — his influence on striker partner Vinicius Junior is profound, and it is no exaggeration to say Benzema often carries the team’s entire attack on his shoulders. Of the six Liga games the Frenchman missed in 2021-22, Madrid won just two, and scored just four goals.

And, of course, there are his 15 goals in 11 Champions League games that have fired Madrid to this weekend’s Champions League final against Liverpool in Paris.

Benzema has been leading Madrid’s attack brilliantly since Cristiano Ronaldo left almost four years ago, but this season has finally brought the attention that his all-round performances deserve.

Dermot Corrigan

La Liga Young Player of the Season: Gavi (Barcelona)

Another disappointing year for Barcelona, save for the emergence of another sensational young talent at the Nou Camp in 17-year-old midfielder Gavi.

After impressing on his debut as a substitute versus Getafe in September, Pablo Martin Paez Gavira quickly became a fixture for then-Barca coach Ronald Koeman and his successor Xavi Hernandez. He also made his Spain senior national debut just a few months after his La Liga bow.

The Andalusian, who joined Barca’s La Masia academy aged 12, obviously has the touch and awareness required in a Barca midfielder. There is also a sparky side to his character that has brought nine yellow cards and one red to go with his six assists and two goals in La Liga.

All that just makes him even more loved by Barca fans — and is a big reason the club’s hierarchy are considering selling Frenkie de Jong this summer.

Dermot Corrigan

Serie A Player of the Season: Rafael Leao (AC Milan)

The surfer emoji is what Leao’s team-mates use whenever he plays, and this season, it’s as if the Portugal international caught one of those big waves at Nazare.

One defender after another has been left gasping in his wake, with Leao completing the most dribbles in Serie A (98). As the stakes got higher and higher over a tough run-in, Leao got better and better, registering nine goal contributions (three goals, six assists) in Milan’s last six league games.

James Horncastle

Serie A Young Player of the Season: Pierre Kalulu (AC Milan)

Milan’s chief scout Geoffrey Moncada may have discovered the new Lilian Thuram — and at what cost?

A bargain €1.1 million. Pierre Kalulu has been so good as Fikayo Tomori’s partner that there’s a legitimate debate to be had about whether it’s worth the club’s while to spend upwards of €30 million on Sven Botman or Gleison Bremer.

James Horncastle

SPFL Player of the Season: Callum McGregor (Celtic)

There were a couple of other good candidates here. Hearts’ Craig Gordon has rolled back the years with some sensational shot-stopping, and John Souttar has been excellent after such an injury-plagued few years. Had Ross County’s Regan Charles-Cook maintained his superb opening first two-thirds of the season, he would have been a strong contender, and before his recent injury, Alfredo Morelos was playing some of the best football of his Rangers career — as had Tom Rogic in his final season with Celtic.

Yet it was another Celtic midfielder who we believe takes the top award. In his debut season as captain after Scott Brown moved to Aberdeen, McGregor has taken to the role like a duck to water — the chief lieutenant of Ange Postecoglou’s single-minded, winners’ mentality. He has been the driving force in key moments during Celtic’s season, not least his influence in the equaliser in the title race’s most decisive game, Celtic’s 2-1 win at Ibrox in April.

Yet as the deep-lying playmaker in Postecoglou’s side, he is also their tactical lynchpin and tempo-setter, the foundation on which their football is built. Lastly, he is also arguably their best player too. His range of passing, decision-making, technique and defensive output have been outstanding all year. As Postecoglou himself said: “Callum’s football is where it starts.”

Kieran Devlin

SPFL Young Player of the Season: Calvin Bassey (Rangers)

Aberdeen’s Calvin Ramsay, Dundee United’s Ross Graham and Dylan Levitt, and Celtic’s Liel Abada have all had good seasons, but Bassey has had a great one. Man of the match in a European final and featuring in the Europa League’s team of the tournament, 22-year-old Bassey has been just as important domestically to Rangers this season.

After a bedding-in debut campaign during Rangers’ title-winning season last year, Rangers’ “cheat code” has grown into his centre-back role and become a standout performer regardless of whether he is played in the middle or at left-back.

His athleticism and physicality are complemented by great technical ability, an excellent range of passing and astute match intelligence. He is versatile and consistent, but those standards he maintains are of absurdly high quality for one so young. He is as about as well-rounded a modern defender as you can imagine.

Jordan Campbell

EFL Championship Player of the Season: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham)

Aleksandar Mitrovic redefined what a good goalscoring season looks like in the Championship. Surpassing 30 goals at this level was seen as the gold standard in the modern game, but Mitrovic nuked that perception — and forced observers to dust off the record books to find comparable centre-forwards.

By the season’s close, you would have to look back more than half a century, as Mitrovic became the first striker to score 43 goals in a second-tier season since Brian Clough for Middlesbrough, in 1958-59. Records held by Guy Whittingham (42 goals, record for 46-game format) and Ivan Toney (31 goals, Championship record), fell by the wayside.

Mitrovic has thrived under Marco Silva, playing in a team that scored 106 times. He has been ruthless, averaging more than a goal per game and greatly outperforming his expected goals total (43 goals from a total xG of 35.9). In this era, such form is unprecedented and leaves him a cut above the rest of the division.

He was already adored at Craven Cottage, but his legendary status is now firmly etched in stone.

Peter Rutzler

EFL Championship Young Player of the Season: Fabio Carvalho (Fulham)

This was Fabio Carvalho’s first full season as a senior professional, but you would not have guessed that from his performances.

In a Fulham team already packed with attacking talent, the 19-year-old creative midfielder became an integral component, providing 10 goals and eight assists from 36 appearances.

But his performances, drifting into pockets of space, knitting attacking moves together and gliding past dazzled opponents, meant his influence on Fulham’s success went well beyond those numbers.

Throughout the season, Carvalho was surrounded by constant speculation about his future, but his performances did not drop, his commitment never questioned. With his contract expiring, he will now join Liverpool in the summer — the latest Fulham talent to be whisked away in the early stages of their career.

But it speaks volumes that he will be greatly missed in west London, and that he will be very hard to replace.

After a fantastic season, there’s no doubt that Liverpool have a gem on their hands.

Peter Rutzler

Premier League Team of the Season

WSL Team of the Season

EFL Championship Team of the Season

(Graphics: Sam Richardson; photos: Getty Images)