2nd May, 2013
Tottenham Hotspur forward Gareth Bale has been named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year. The Welshman acquired 53 per cent of the votes narrowly edging out Manchester United’s Robin van Persie who received 43 per cent, with Juan Mata coming third.
Bale becomes Spurs’ first winner of the FWA award since David Ginola in 1999, and the first Wales international to be selected for English football’s oldest individual trophy since Everton’s Neville Southall in 1985. He is also the first player to win the FWA and both PFA awards since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007.
His performance this season has kept Spurs in contention for a place in next season’s Champions League, scoring 19 goals in 29 Premier League appearances. He has scored a total of 24 goals in 40 appearances for Tottenham this season.
The 23-year old, who has been linked with a move away from Tottenham this summer, will be the centre of attraction when the transfer window opens. Tottenham have placed a £60 million price tag on the left-legged forward.
“I have been very fortunate to be playing in such a fantastic team and I owe a lot to my team-mates and, obviously, the manager who has shown such faith in me. This award has been won in the past by some of the greatest names in football and I consider it a privilege that the FWA has selected me to be named alongside them,” he said.
Last week, Bale who was named the Professional Football Association’s player and young player of the year for 2012-13, became only the third person to clinch the double accolade in the same season following Andy Gray and Cristiano Ronaldo.