Raheem Sterling was named the 2019 footballer of the year by the Football Writers’ Association on Monday hours after missing out on the players’ player of the year award.
The Manchester City and England forward topped the poll ofthe 400-strong FWA membership as a clear winner, with 62 percent of the votes,more than 100 ahead of Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk.
Sterling’s team-mate Sergio Aguero was in third place.
On Sunday, Sterling, 24, lost out to Van Dijk in the battlefor the Professional Footballers’ Association award but was announced PFA youngplayer of the year.
Sterling has been a key man in Pep Guardiola’s side as theybattle with Liverpool for the Premier League title and has received praise forthe strong stance he has taken against racism in the game, having himself beensubjected to abuse.
Sterling has scored 29 goals for club and country, includinga hat-trick for England in the opening Euro 2020 qualifier against the CzechRepublic at Wembley, while also helping Gareth Southgate’s young squad reachthis summer’s Nations League Finals.
Manchester City’s England forward Nikita Parris won the women’s footballer of the year award.