At the end of every English football season the members of the PFA, the players union, vote on which of its young members has played the best football in the previous year. All professional footballers, regardless of nationality, under the age of 23 playing in the English leagues are eligible for the award. The award is the most prestigous honour available specifically to young footballers given in England. The award was first given in 1974, here is a complete list of winners:

1970s

• 1974 - Kevin Beattie , (Ipswich Town)
• 1975 - Mervyn Day , (West Ham United)
• 1976 - Peter Barnes , (Manchester City)
• 1977 - Andy Gray, (Aston Villa)
• 1978 - Tony Woodcock , (Nottingham Forest)
• 1979 - Cyrille Regis, (West Bromwich Albion)

1980s

• 1980 - Glenn Hoddle, (Tottenham Hotspur)
• 1981 - Gary Shaw , (Aston Villa)
• 1982 - Steve Moran , (Southampton)
• 1983 - Ian Rush, (Liverpool)
• 1984 - Paul Walsh, (Luton Town)
• 1985 - Mark Hughes, (Manchester United)
• 1986 - Tony Cottee , (West Ham United)
• 1987 - Tony Adams, (Arsenal)
• 1988 - Paul Gascoigne, (Newcastle United)
• 1989 - Paul Merson, (Arsenal)

1990s

• 1990 - Matthew Le Tissier, (Southampton)
• 1991 - Lee Sharpe, (Manchester United)
• 1992 - Ryan Giggs, (Manchester United)
• 1993 - Ryan Giggs, (Manchester United)
• 1994 - Andy Cole, (Newcastle United)
• 1995 - Robbie Fowler, (Liverpool)
• 1996 - Robbie Fowler, (Liverpool)
• 1997 - David Beckham, (Manchester United)
• 1998 - Michael Owen, (Liverpool)
• 1999 - Nicolas Anelka, (Arsenal}

2000s

• 2000 - Harry Kewell, (Leeds United)
• 2001 - Steven Gerrard, (Liverpool)
• 2002 - Craig Bellamy, (Newcastle United)
• 2003 - Jermaine Jenas, (Newcastle United)
• 2004 - Scott Parker, (Chelsea)

See also

• PFA Players' Player of the Year