# PFA Merit Award
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{{Short description|Award given by the Professional Footballers' Association}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{multiple image
| footer = [Sir Gareth Southgate](/source/Gareth_Southgate) and [Emma Hayes](/source/Emma_Hayes) are the most recent honorees in 2025
| image1 = Gareth Southgate 2018 cropped.jpg
| alt1 = Southgate in 2018
| width1 = 150
| image2 = Chelsea FC Women v Everton FC Women, 12 September 2021 (01) (cropped).jpg
| alt2 = Hayes in 2021
| width2 = 175
}}
The '''Professional Footballers' Association Merit Award''' (often called the '''PFA Merit Award''', or simply the '''Merit Award''') is an award given by the [Professional Footballers' Association](/source/Professional_Footballers'_Association) (the PFA) for meritorious service to football.[[http://www.givemefootball.com/rolls_of_honour/meritroll.html PFA Merit Award 1974-2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215141356/http://www.givemefootball.com/rolls_of_honour/meritroll.html |date=15 December 2007 }}]
The award was first given in [1974](/source/1973%E2%80%9374_in_English_football), and was won (jointly) by [Bobby Charlton](/source/Bobby_Charlton) and [Cliff Lloyd](/source/Cliff_Lloyd). The first woman to win the award was [Steph Houghton](/source/Steph_Houghton) in 2019. In 2022, the award was separated into two: women's and men's.
The most recent winners of the award are [Sir Gareth Southgate](/source/Gareth_Southgate) and [Emma Hayes](/source/Emma_Hayes).
==List of winners==
===1970s===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year!!Winner(s)!! width="350px" |Note
|-
| width="50px" rowspan="2"| [1974](/source/1973%E2%80%9374_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Sir](/source/Knight_Bachelor) [Bobby Charlton](/source/Bobby_Charlton) [CBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire), [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) || rowspan="2"| '''First winners of the award'''
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [Cliff Lloyd](/source/Cliff_Lloyd)
|-
| width="50px"| [1975](/source/1974%E2%80%9375_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|SCO}} [Denis Law](/source/Denis_Law) [CBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) || '''First winner of the award from outside [England](/source/England)'''
|-
| width="50px"| [1976](/source/1975%E2%80%9376_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [George Eastham](/source/George_Eastham) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1977](/source/1976%E2%80%9377_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Jack Taylor](/source/Jack_Taylor_(referee)) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) ||
|-
| width="50px"| [1978](/source/1977%E2%80%9378_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|SCO}} [Bill Shankly](/source/Bill_Shankly) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1979](/source/1978%E2%80%9379_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Sir](/source/Knight_Bachelor) [Tom Finney](/source/Tom_Finney) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|}
===1980s===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year!!Winner(s)!! width="350px" |Notes
|-
| width="50px"| [1980](/source/1979%E2%80%9380_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|SCO}} [Sir](/source/Knight_Bachelor) [Matt Busby](/source/Matt_Busby) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1981](/source/1980%E2%80%9381_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [John Trollope](/source/John_Trollope_(footballer)) [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1982](/source/1981%E2%80%9382_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Joe Mercer](/source/Joe_Mercer) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1983](/source/1982%E2%80%9383_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Bob Paisley](/source/Bob_Paisley) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1984](/source/1983%E2%80%9384_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Bill Nicholson](/source/Bill_Nicholson_(footballer)) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1985](/source/1984%E2%80%9385_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Ron Greenwood](/source/Ron_Greenwood) [CBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1986](/source/1985%E2%80%9386_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [England](/source/England_national_football_team) [World Cup](/source/FIFA_World_Cup) [squad](/source/1966_FIFA_World_Cup_squads) [1966](/source/1966_FIFA_World_Cup)
|-
| width="50px"| [1987](/source/1986%E2%80%9387_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Sir](/source/Knight_Bachelor) [Stanley Matthews](/source/Stanley_Matthews) [CBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1988](/source/1987%E2%80%9388_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Billy Bonds](/source/Billy_Bonds) [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1989](/source/1988%E2%80%9389_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Nat Lofthouse](/source/Nat_Lofthouse) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|}
===1990s===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year!!Winner(s)!! width="350px" |Notes
|-
| width="50px"| [1990](/source/1989%E2%80%9390_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Peter Shilton](/source/Peter_Shilton) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1991](/source/1990%E2%80%9391_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|SCO}} [Tommy Hutchison](/source/Tommy_Hutchison)
|-
| width="50px"| [1992](/source/1991%E2%80%9392_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Brian Clough](/source/Brian_Clough) [OBE](/source/OBE)
|-
| width="50px" rowspan="2"| [1993](/source/1992%E2%80%9393_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Manchester United](/source/Manchester_United_F.C.) [European Cup](/source/UEFA_Champions_League) squad [1968](/source/1967%E2%80%9368_European_Cup) || {{flagicon|IRE}} [Shay Brennan](/source/Shay_Brennan) and {{flagicon|IRE}} [Tony Dunne](/source/Tony_Dunne)
'''Joint first winner of the award from outside [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain)'''
'''Joint first winner of the award from outside the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom)'''
|-
|{{flagicon|POR}} [Eusébio](/source/Eus%C3%A9bio) || '''Joint first winner of the award from outside [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain)'''
'''Joint first winner of the award from outside the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom)'''
|-
| width="50px"| [1994](/source/1993%E2%80%9394_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|NIR}} [Billy Bingham](/source/Billy_Bingham) [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1995](/source/1994%E2%80%9395_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|SCO}} [Gordon Strachan](/source/Gordon_Strachan) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1996](/source/1995%E2%80%9396_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|BRA}} [Pelé](/source/Pel%C3%A9) || '''First winner of the award from outside [Europe](/source/Europe)'''
|-
| width="50px"| [1997](/source/1996%E2%80%9397_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Peter Beardsley](/source/Peter_Beardsley) [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [1998](/source/1997%E2%80%9398_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Steve Ogrizovic](/source/Steve_Ogrizovic)
|-
| width="50px"| [1999](/source/1998%E2%80%9399_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Tony Ford](/source/Tony_Ford_(footballer%2C_born_1959)) [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|}
===2000s===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year!!Winner(s)!! width="350px" |Notes
|-
| width="50px"| [2000](/source/1999%E2%80%932000_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Gary Mabbutt](/source/Gary_Mabbutt) [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [2001](/source/2000%E2%80%9301_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Jimmy Hill](/source/Jimmy_Hill) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [2002](/source/2001%E2%80%9302_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|IRE}} [Niall Quinn](/source/Niall_Quinn)
|-
| width="50px"| [2003](/source/2002%E2%80%9303_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Sir](/source/Knight_Bachelor) [Bobby Robson](/source/Bobby_Robson) [CBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [2004](/source/2003%E2%80%9304_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ITA}} [Dario Gradi](/source/Dario_Gradi) [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [2005](/source/2004%E2%80%9305_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|TRI}} [Shaka Hislop](/source/Shaka_Hislop) [CM](/source/Chaconia_Medal)
|-
| width="50px"| [2006](/source/2005%E2%80%9306_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|NIR}} [George Best](/source/George_Best)
|-
| width="50px"| [2007](/source/2006%E2%80%9307_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|SCO}} [Sir](/source/Knight_Bachelor) [Alex Ferguson](/source/Alex_Ferguson) [CBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [2008](/source/2007%E2%80%9308_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Jimmy Armfield](/source/Jimmy_Armfield) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
| width="50px"| [2009](/source/2008%E2%80%9309_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [John McDermott](/source/John_McDermott_(English_footballer))
|}
===2010s===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year!!Winner(s)!! width="350px" |Notes
|-
| width="50px"| [2010](/source/2009%E2%80%9310_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|SAF}} [Lucas Radebe](/source/Lucas_Radebe)
|-
| width="50px"| [2011](/source/2010%E2%80%9311_in_English_football) || width"315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Howard Webb](/source/Howard_Webb)
|-
| width="50px"| [2012](/source/2011%E2%80%9312_in_English_football) || width"315px" | {{flagicon|SCO}} [Graham Alexander](/source/Graham_Alexander)
|-
| width="50px"| [2013](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_in_English_football) || width"315px" | [Manchester United](/source/Manchester_United_F.C.) [Class of '92](/source/Fergie's_Fledglings)
|-
| width="50px"| [2014](/source/2013%E2%80%9314_in_English_football) || width"315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Donald Bell](/source/Donald_Simpson_Bell) [VC](/source/Victoria_Cross)
|-
| width="50px" rowspan=2| [2015](/source/2014%E2%80%9315_in_English_football) || width"315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Steven Gerrard](/source/Steven_Gerrard) [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)[{{cite web |title=Gerrard & Lampard share PFA Merit Award |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2015/04/26/11170022/gerrard-lampard-share-pfa-merit-award?ICID=AR_RS_1|publisher=Goal.com |date=26 April 2015 |accessdate=26 April 2015}}]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [Frank Lampard](/source/Frank_Lampard) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)[{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepfa.com/news/2016/4/24/ryan-giggs-wins-pfa-merit-award|title=Ryan Giggs wins PFA Merit award|last=Sports|first=PA|website=thepfa.com|access-date=2016-04-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509131547/https://www.thepfa.com/news/2016/4/24/ryan-giggs-wins-pfa-merit-award|archive-date=9 May 2016|url-status=dead}}]
|-
| width="50px"| [2017](/source/2016%E2%80%9317_in_English_football) || width"315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [David Beckham](/source/David_Beckham) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)
|-
|[2018](/source/2017%E2%80%9318_in_English_football)
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [Cyrille Regis](/source/Cyrille_Regis) [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)[{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/pfa-merit-award-winner-cyrille-regis|title=PFA Merit Award winner Cyrille Regis|website=thepfa.com|language=en|access-date=2018-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509013532/https://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/pfa-merit-award-winner-cyrille-regis|archive-date=9 May 2018|url-status=dead}}]
|-
|[2019](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_in_English_football)
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [Steph Houghton](/source/Steph_Houghton) [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)[{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepfa.com:443/news/2019/4/28/pfa-merit-award-winner-steph-houghton|title=PFA Merit Award winner Steph Houghton|website=thepfa.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-29}}]
| First female to receive award.
|}
===2020s===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year!!Winner(s)!! width="350px" |Notes
|-
| width="50px"| [2020](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Marcus Rashford](/source/Marcus_Rashford) [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)[{{cite news|url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/man-utd-striker-marcus-rashford-recognised-with-pfa-merit-award|title=Rashford wins PFA Award|website=manutd.com |publisher=Manchester United|date=8 September 2020 |accessdate=9 September 2020}}]
|-
| width="50px"| [2021](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Gordon Taylor](/source/Gordon_Taylor_(footballer)) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)[{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/news/gordon-taylor-receives-pfa-merit-award-for-his-services-to-football_450441.html|title=Gordon Taylor receives PFA merit award for his services to football|website=sportsmole.co.uk|publisher=Sports Mole|date=6 June 2021|accessdate=7 June 2021}}]
|-
| rowspan=2 width="50px"| [2022](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Roy Hodgson](/source/Roy_Hodgson) [CBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)[{{cite news|url=https://www.thepfa.com/news/2022/6/9/pfa-awards-merit-award-roy-hodgson|title=Roy Hodgson wins PFA Merit Award|publisher=PFA|date=9 June 2021|accessdate=30 August 2023}}]
|-
| width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Hope Powell](/source/Hope_Powell) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)[{{cite news|url=https://www.thepfa.com/news/2022/6/9/pfa-awards-merit-award-hope-powell|title=Hope Powell wins PFA Merit Award|publisher=PFA|date=9 June 2021|accessdate=30 August 2023}}] || First time men's and women's PFA Merit awards were separated
|-
| rowspan=2 width="50px"| [2023](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_in_English_football) || width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Ian Wright](/source/Ian_Wright) [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)[{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/30/rachel-daly-and-erling-haaland-win-pfa-player-of-the-year-awards|title=Rachel Daly and Erling Haaland win PFA player of the year awards|website=The Guardian|date=29 August 2023|accessdate=30 August 2023}}]
|-
| width="315px" | {{flagicon|ENG}} [Jill Scott](/source/Jill_Scott_(footballer)) [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire)