The Premier League’s Accolades: A Guide to Its Awards and Honors

Beyond the ultimate glory of lifting the Premier League trophy, a season in England's top flight is a journey punctuated by a host of individual and team awards. These accolades celebrate moments of brilliance, recognize sustained excellence, and contribute to the rich and vibrant narrative of a league that is home to some of the world's most talented footballers and tactical masterminds.

From the player who delivers a moment of magic in a single match to the manager who masterminds a historic campaign, here is a comprehensive guide to the most prominent awards available in the Premier League.

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Monthly Awards: A Snapshot of Success

These awards are designed to honor the players and managers who are performing at the highest level in a given month, with the winners often decided by a combination of public votes and expert opinion.

EA Sports Player of the Month This award is a prestigious honor presented to the best player in the league for a specific month. The winner is selected through a meticulous process that combines a public online vote, which accounts for 10% of the final tally, with the votes of a panel of football experts and the captains of all Premier League clubs . Historically, a few names have dominated this award. The joint-record for the most wins stands at seven, held by three of the Premier League's most prolific forwards: Sergio Agüero, Harry Kane, and Mohamed Salah 

Barclays Manager of the Month This award recognizes the manager whose team has performed the best in a given month. The winner is chosen by a combination of a public vote and a panel of football experts. The list of winners reads like a who's who of managerial legends.    

Sir Alex Ferguson holds the all-time record with an incredible 27 awards to his name, dating back to the award's inception in 1993.   

Pep Guardiola has also set a unique record, becoming the only manager to win the award in four consecutive months.   

Guinness Goal of the Month This award celebrates the most spectacular goal scored in the league each month. The winner is selected from a shortlist of standout goals, which are then voted on by a public panel and a team of experts. The award is currently sponsored by Guinness, which replaced Budweiser as the league's official beer partner in 2024.   

Coca-Cola Save of the Month Honoring goalkeepers for their brilliance, this award recognizes the best save in a given month. The winner is chosen from a shortlist and voted on by a panel of experts and the public. Coca-Cola is the official soft drink partner of the Premier League.   

Man of the Match The Man of the Match is a less formal but highly coveted award given to the most outstanding player in a particular match. The winner is often chosen by a television commentator, a match sponsor, or through an online fan vote. The criteria for winning can include a range of factors, such as goals, assists, tackles won, or a crucial clean sheet for a goalkeeper under pressure. A player who scores a hat-trick is often a strong candidate, with hat-trick scorers even receiving the match ball. The winner is typically chosen from the winning side and receives a small black and gold trophy for their performance.   

Season Awards: The Ultimate Honors

These awards are the pinnacle of individual recognition, a testament to a player or manager’s sustained excellence over the entire campaign. The winners are typically decided by a combination of a public vote and a panel of experts.

EA Sports Player of the Season This award is the ultimate individual prize for a player in the Premier League. It is presented to the player who has performed at the highest level over the entire season.   

Barclays Manager of the Season This honor is presented to the manager who has had the most outstanding season, guiding their team to success through a combination of tactical genius and brilliant man-management.   

Hublot Young Player of the Season This award is presented to the most outstanding player who is 23 years old or younger at the start of the season . Manchester City's Phil Foden has won the award twice, and the current holder of the award is Ryan Gravenberch .

Goal of the Season This award recognizes the most aesthetically pleasing and spectacular goal scored throughout the entire season. The winner is chosen from all the monthly winners, with the addition of any outstanding goals from May.   

Save of the Season This award honors the best save from the entire season, a moment of goalkeeping brilliance that could have a massive impact on the outcome of a match. The winner is chosen from all the monthly winners, with the addition of any outstanding saves from May.   

Most Powerful Goal A newer, more data-driven award, this prize is given to the goal with the fastest average speed scored from outside the penalty area without a deflection off another player.   

Most Improbable Comeback This unique award is given to the team that made a comeback from the lowest probability of victory. It's based on a "Win Probability Statistic," which calculates a team's chance of winning or drawing by simulating the rest of the match 100,000 times.   

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More Than Just Trophies

The Premier League's awards system provides a comprehensive way to recognize excellence in all its forms. These accolades are more than just pieces of silverware; they are milestones in a player's or manager's career, and they add to the rich narrative of a league that is defined by its competitive spirit and unforgettable moments. From a stunning bicycle kick on the opening day of the season to a consistent campaign of brilliant performances, the awards celebrate the passion and dedication that make the Premier League the global spectacle it is today.