When we look at the Premier League player of the season awards, there are very few defenders winning the accolades. Just like any other major individual trophy, no surprises there.
During the last decade, only three defenders have managed to get their hands on the best player trophy. Two of them were Nemanja Vidić and Vincent Kompany, who won the praise in the 2010/11 and 11/12 seasons respectively. Well, they had legendary careers, so a comparison to the names we are going to see below is premature.
Premier League Player of the Season
Then it took an inspiring performance from Virgil van Dijk in the 2018/19 season to give the defenders some joy. He went on to be named the Best Player in EuropeUEFA that season, leaving Messi and Ronaldo on their seats clapping.
After a stunning season for Liverpool, the Dutchman had to sit out most of this season with a knee injury last October. The injury eventually leads to surgery and the man is confident he can join his teammates in the Premier League schedule for 2021-22. This year’s Premier League table is one to forget for Liverpool even though they finished third, but after a great start much was expected from Klopp’s team.
But this year around another Center Back has stolen the limelight. Manchester City paid big money to bring in Ruben Dias from Benfica last summer. It is safe to say he is the best summer signing, with City reaching their first UCL final and winning both PL and EFL Cup.
The 24-year-old Portuguese was very confident after being offered the sky blue shirt. He has really grown into a leading man with comparisons to Kompany coming in from both fans and pundits.
The Ruben Dias Factor
Pep Guardiola needed a guy to guard his goalkeeper and his usual choices like John Stones and Aymeric Laporte had issues doing just that. But even then the attacking side was doing what they do best. Sergio Agüero, Raheem Sterling, and Bernardo Silva were on top form, and Gabriel Jesus was always available on the bench.
After the arrival of Ruben Dias however, the defence has improvedmiles while a string of injuries and lack of form has caused havoc among the attackers. Kevin De Bruyne also picked up an injury that cost City some valuable points at the start of the Premier League season.
Then gradually each of those problems got solved game after game. With a partnership forming between Dias and Stones, Guardiola began to dream about winning the title. Liverpool failing miserably during mid-season also propelled City to the top of the table. Even though players like Phil Foden have stood up for the Citizens, the defense has played a major role in putting them at top of the Premier League standings.
As the season ended, the defensive prowess was on display. From the 38 games played, City has conceded only 32 goals- a league-best for this season. The attackers have also pitched in with their contribution of 83 goals, another best for this year.
In the light of his contributions, Dias was awarded the Football Writer’s Association Footballer of the year for 2020/21. The defender received more votes than his city teammate De Bruyne and Tottenham’s Harty Kane.
He is the first defender to get this prestigious award after Liverpool’s Steve Nicol back in 1989. That’s too long, isn’t it?? It is not like the Premier League saw great defenders since then, but Dias truly deserved this honor.
He is also only the third player to win the FWA award in their very first season in the Premier League. Other in that list are Jurgen Klinsmann and Gianfranco Zola, some of the greats to play in England. With a changed Premier League schedule last season, players had to spend too much time on the pitch in all competitions.
But the pressure on Ruben Dias Man. City is to replicate similar performances in the coming season as well. Before that, he has the UCL final to concentrate on. Even if City fails to win the Champions League, the performance of Dias will always be one of the best initial seasons for a defender in the Premier League.