The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland Players' Young Player of the Year (often called the PFAI Players' Young Player of the Year, the PFAI Young Player of the Year, or simply the Young Player of the Year) award is given to the footballer in the top-flight of Irish football, the League of Ireland, who is seen to have been the best player of the previous season and is under 23 years of age.
The shortlist is compiled by the members of the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland (the PFAI), and then the winner is voted for by the other players in the league.
The award was first given in 1982, and was won by Bohemians player Jacko McDonagh. The most recent winner of the PFAI Young Player of the Year award was Mason Melia of St Patrick's Athletic.
UEFA Euro 2016 saw three former winners of the award making appearances at the finals tournament in France, with two of them (Wes Hoolahan of the Republic of Ireland and Niall McGinn of Northern Ireland) scoring goals for their countries.
List of winners
editHighlighted players are winning the award for a second time.
2020s
edit| Year | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 |  Mason Melia |
St Patrick's Athletic |
| 2023 | Sam Curtis |
St Patrick's Athletic |
| 2022 | Andy Lyons |
Shamrock Rovers |
| 2021 | Dawson Devoy |
Bohemians |
| 2020 | Danny Grant |
Bohemians |
2010s
edit2000s
edit| Year | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Conor Powell |
Bohemians |
| 2008 |  Niall McGinn |
Derry City |
| 2007 | Mark Quigley |
St Patrick's Athletic |
| 2006 | Kevin Deery |
Derry City |
| 2005 | Paddy McCourt |
Derry City |
| 2004 | Daryl Murphy |
Waterford United |
| 2003 |  Éamon Zayed |
Bray Wanderers |
| 2003 | Wes Hoolahan |
Shelbourne |
| 2002 | Robbie Martin |
UCD |
| 2001 | Richie Foran |
Shelbourne |
| 2000 | Richie Baker |
Shelbourne |
1990s
edit| Year | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Richie Baker |
Shelbourne |
| 1998 | Colin Hawkins |
St Patrick's Athletic |
| 1997 | Gary Beckett |
Derry City |
| 1996 | Michael O'Byrne |
UCD |
| 1995 | Billy Woods |
Cork City |
| 1994 | Jim Crawford |
Bohemians |
| 1993 | Richie Purdy |
Dundalk |
| 1992 | Tony McCarthy |
Shelbourne |
| 1991 | Barry Ryan |
Limerick |
| 1990 | Vinny Arkins / Tony Cousins |
Shamrock Rovers / Dundalk |
1980s
edit| Year | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Liam Coyle |
Derry City |
| 1988 | Paul McGee |
Bohemians |
| 1987 | Martin Bayly |
Sligo Rovers |
| 1986 | Liam O'Brien |
Shamrock Rovers |
| 1985 | Peter Coyle |
Limerick |
| 1984 | Joe Hanrahan |
UCD |
| 1983 | Ken DeMange |
Home Farm |
| 1982 | Jacko McDonagh |
Bohemians |
Breakdown of winners
editWinners by club
edit| Club | Number of wins |
|---|---|
| Bohemians | 7 (1982, 1988, 1994, 2009, 2019, 2020, 2021) |
| Shamrock Rovers | 6 (1986, 1990, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2022) |
| St Patrick's Athletic | 5 (1998, 2007, 2012, 2023, 2024) |
| Dundalk | 5 (1990, 1993, 2013, 2014, 2018) |
| Derry City | 5 (1989, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2008) |
| Shelbourne | 5 (1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003) |
| UCD | 3 (1984, 1996, 2002) |
| Cork City | 2 (1995, 2016) |
| Limerick | 2 (1985, 1991) |
| Sporting Fingal | 1 (2010) |
| Waterford United | 1 (2004) |
| Bray Wanderers | 1 (2003) |
| Sligo Rovers | 1 (1987) |
| Home Farm | 1 (1983) |
Winners by country
edit| Country | Number of wins |
|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland |
38 (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) |
| Northern Ireland |
5 (1989, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2008) |
| Libya |
1 (2003) |
Trivia
edit- In 2000, Richie Baker became the first – and so far only – player to win the award twice. He achieved this feat by winning the award in successive seasons
- In 1990, the award was shared between Vinny Arkins and Tony Cousins. This is the only year that the award was shared.
- In 1989, Liam Coyle became the first player from outside of the Republic of Ireland to win the award.