Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United is the adidas-presented Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for 2023–24.
Notwithstanding a rare injury, our number eight has finished the season strongly and played a major role in Erik ten Hag’s team’s triumph all season long.
For the second year running, he created more opportunities than any other player and finished the division as the Reds’ joint-top scorer, tied with Rasmus Hojlund.
In addition to scoring 15 goals overall, one behind Hojlund on 16, the Portugal international has more than doubled the number of assists of any of his teammates with eight.
Fernandes had the finest run of his United career to date with five straight goals, including a double in the win over Sheffield United last month.
He was twice nominated for Player of the Month this semester—in August and April—and won both times.
Once more leading the Reds out at Wembley, he will try to end the campaign with a victory over Manchester City on Saturday. He scored in the third game of the cup run and was awarded Man of the Match in our Emirates FA Cup semi-final shootout victory over Coventry City.
Given his 40% vote percentage, Bruno was undoubtedly the fan favourite.
The nearest challenger of our Portuguese magnifico was his fellow countryman Diogo Dalot, who polled 20% in recognition of his exceptional consistency since August.
Colleagues in the 2022 FA Youth Cup-winning team, academy players, came in second and third place in the vote. Kobbie Mainoo placed third and Alejandro Garnacho placed fourth.
Our captain has now won the coveted trophy three times since joining the Reds from Sporting Club in 2020.
He won that first season and the following one, 2020–21, after just half a season with the Reds. The 29-year-old finished second to Marcus Rashford the previous year.
Only two men have won the award more frequently than him—David De Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo—having each won three times.
Many thanks to everyone who cast a ballot, and from everyone at United, congratulations to Bruno!
The first team players at Manchester United have chosen Diogo Dalot as their Players’ Player of the Year for the 2023–24 campaign.
The Portuguese defender has been a bright spot in an otherwise difficult campaign, and he has maintained personal consistency even with our erratic results.
When Dalot joined the team from Porto in June 2018, at the age of just 19, his technical prowess was evident, but this term has also been accompanied by an increasing physical strength.
No outfield player has played more than Diogo in the team’s injury-plagued season, and Erik ten Hag has benefited greatly from his versatility on both wings.
When asked last week what it would mean to him to receive an award from his colleagues, Dalot replied:
It is even more meaningful to me than the major honour. I think a lot of the supporters; they are the most important aspect of our team and of me.
Nevertheless, the people I see every day are my teammates. We still need to come here, argue, and share these times of both good and bad times.
“This, ultimately, is my second family and this recognition by your team-mates, I think it is really special, because they see you every day, they know the work you put in behind the scenes.”
Though his boss and United fans worldwide may value Dalot’s consistency (and availability) the most, the player has also produced some exciting moments this season.
He began our march to Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup final by opening the scoring in our third-round match at Wigan Athletic in January. He also scored a fantastic David Beckham-esque winner at Sheffield United in October to earn the Reds three points on the day we mourned Sir Bobby Charlton’s passing.
A valiant block at Old Trafford to prevent West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen from scoring what appeared to be a definite goal and a beautiful cross for Scott McTominay’s late victory against Aston Villa are two more standouts.
In the Emirates FA Cup, he gave maybe his best all-around performance in the stunning 4-3 victory over Liverpool, playing 120 sapping minutes of outstanding attack and defence.
When we recently spoke to the player, he named the game as his favourite of the season.
He exclaimed, “I saw people crying at the stadium as soon as the game finished.” “Just being there and knowing that you contributed in some small way to their day makes you feel unique. That gives us a unique feeling occasionally.”
Diogo, congratulations on your medal and a fantastic season.
Alejandro Garnacho’s incredible overhead kick against Everton has earned Manchester United Goal of the Season 2023–24, sponsored by Tezos.
Our 10-goal shortlist was ridiculously good, with at least four or five of the nominated goals deserving of winning, and a record number of votes were cast on ManUtd.com and the United App.
But in maybe the least unexpected development of 2024, Garnacho’s outstanding performance was the clear frontrunner.
The 19-year-old’s incredible skill, shown less than three minutes into United’s November victory at Goodison Park, was the buzz of the football world, with many observers speculating that it may even be the best goal scored in the history of the Premier League.
But Garnacho was unavoidable, and is that any surprise?
A floated Diogo Dalot cross created the winning goal, although, with all due respect to the Portuguese, the ball was sent a little behind Alejandro, requiring the expertly executed improvisation that came next.
With a beautiful connection, Garnacho leaped into the air and sent the high ball looping back over Everton goalie Jordan Pickford into the upper corner of the Gwladys Street End net. Remarkable.
There were instant analogies made to Wayne Rooney’s 2011 overhead shot against Manchester City, which was later voted the best goal of the first 20 Premier League seasons.
Garnacho’s achievement will be admired for years to come even though it lacks the greater background that made Rooney’s goal not only miraculous but essential.
It has now taken home the club’s own equivalent of the BBC’s coveted Goal of the Season title. Although the Premier League has not yet declared its victor, Alejandro undoubtedly has a strong chance there as well.
“Good enough to win the league, the cup, Charity Shield, the World Cup and even the Grand National!” was how the late, great pundit Kenneth Wolstenholme famously described a Bobby Charlton cracker.