BBC Sport has unveiled its first-ever end-of-season football awards, with a panel of expert pundits, journalists, and programme makers casting votes to honor standout performers across the Premier League, Women’s Super League, Scottish Premiership, and English Football League. The 2025-26 campaign provided no shortage of drama, and the awards reflect the players and managers who defined the season—whether by ending long title droughts, overachieving against the odds, or producing moments of sheer individual magic. High-profile figures such as Chris Sutton, Dion Dublin, and Fara Williams weighed in, ensuring the accolades carry significant weight.
In the Premier League, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was named Player of the Season after spearheading the Gunners’ first title triumph since the 2003-04 Invincibles. Rice’s set-piece delivery became a decisive weapon, his leadership qualities shone in a young squad, and his all-action displays in big matches finally helped Mikel Arteta’s side shake off the bridesmaid tag after three consecutive runner-up finishes. “He was the engine and the soul of that team,” one BBC contributor noted, highlighting how Rice’s arrival transformed Arsenal from contenders into champions. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, who shattered the single-season assists record, finished as a close runner-up, while Brentford striker Igor Thiago’s 22-goal haul earned third place.
The Premier League awards also recognised emerging talent and dugout mastery. Manchester City full-back Nico O’Reilly scooped Young Player of the Season after a breakout campaign in which his attacking runs from deep provided a crucial outlet for club and country. Arteta’s Manager of the Season honour felt inevitable after he led Arsenal from October’s summit all the way to the title and a Champions League final date with Paris Saint-Germain. The Goal of the Season went to Fulham’s Harrison Reed, whose ferocious 25-yard swerving strike in stoppage time snatched a 2-2 draw against Liverpool. In the quirky categories, Granit Xhaka’s £17 million move to Sunderland was voted Signing of the Season, Tottenham’s unexpected relegation battle was Shock of the Season, and the sacking of Ange Postecoglou early in his Nottingham Forest tenure was deemed the most predictable dismissal. The panel also had a wry pick for worst widely held prediction—Liverpool retaining the title, a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change.
In the Women’s Super League, the awards were dominated by Manchester City. Striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw collected the Player of the Season accolade by an overwhelming margin—over 80% of the vote—after scoring 21 goals in 22 matches, plus four assists, as City ended Chelsea’s stranglehold on the title and lifted the trophy for the first time since 2016. Shaw’s physicality, intelligent movement, and lethal finishing made her unplayable at times, and her recent contract extension signals the club’s intent to build a dynasty. Manager Andree Jeglertz earned the coaching award, with his tactical nous and calm leadership guiding City to a double-chasing campaign; they face Brighton in the FA Cup final this weekend. The breakthrough prize went to Veerle Buurman, the young talent whose rise captured attention despite the league’s competitive depth.
North of the border, the Scottish Premiership awards told a story of what might have been for Hearts. Portuguese forward Claudio Braga was named Player of the Season after a tenacious campaign yielded 14 goals and three assists, powering the Jambos’ title challenge until the final day of the season. A defeat to champions Celtic in that decisive fixture left Hearts runners-up, prolonging the 41-year wait for a non-Old Firm winner. Manager Derek McInnes edged the top boss award by a single vote over Motherwell’s Jens Berthel Askou, whose side secured fourth place and European football—though Askou has since departed for Toulouse. The Goal of the Season belonged to Youssef Chermiti, whose overhead kick for Rangers against Celtic in an Old Firm clash will be replayed for years. On the breaking through front, Falkirk’s Barney Stewart and Kilmarnock’s Findlay Curtis (on loan from Rangers) shared the honour. Meanwhile, Lawrence Shankland’s impending switch from Hearts to Rangers adds a layer of intrigue to an already tumultuous offseason.
In the EFL, the Championship awards reflected the division’s depth and narrative richness. Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney was voted Player of the Season for his dynamic midfield displays that blended passing range, athleticism, and timely goals—a tantalizing “what if” given Boro reached the play-off final but lost to Hull, with Hackney injured. The Manager of the Season prize was shared by Coventry City’s Frank Lampard and Millwall’s Alex Neil. Lampard masterminded the Sky Blues’ romp to the title, ending a 25-year exodus from the top flight and reinventing himself as a talismanic boss in the second tier. Neil’s Millwall pushed for automatic promotion all year but fell short in the play-offs, though their consistency earned plaudits from the BBC panel. “Lampard’s redemption arc and Neil’s overachievement both felt worthy of recognition,” one voter reflected, summing up the sentiment.
League One’s standout was Dom Ballard, the Leyton Orient centre-forward who tallied 23 goals despite leading the line for a club battling relegation. His clutch finishing in key moments kept the O’s afloat, earning him the Player of the Season nod in a category where Lincoln’s Jack Moylan and Plymouth’s Laurent Tolaj were the only other vote-getters. The managerial award was a clean sweep for Lincoln’s Michael Skubala, whose team stormed to the title against the odds, with limited resources compared to bigger budgets in the division. The panel saw it as a textbook case of smart coaching maximizing potential.
In League Two, Swindon Town’s Aaron Drinan pipped the competition for Player of the Season with 22 goals, even as his side missed out on the play-offs. Cambridge United defender Kelland Watts finished second, while champions Bromley’s Omar Sowumni came third. The managerial vote was equally emphatic: Andy Woodman of Bromley garnered every single nod after guiding the club to back-to-back promotions from the National League to League One—a remarkable rise that cements his legacy at Hayes Lane. No other League Two boss troubled the scorers in this category, underscoring the near-universal admiration for Woodman’s achievement.
Taken together, the BBC’s inaugural awards paint a vivid picture of the 2025-26 season: a year where established powers reasserted themselves, but also one where underdogs bit back and individuals transcended their teams’ fortunes. From Rice’s midfield majesty in north London to Shaw’s goal-scoring artistry in Manchester, from Hearts’ agonizing near-miss to Bromley’s fairy-tale ascent, the gongs celebrate the full spectrum of football’s drama. As the summer warms up and attention shifts to transfers and new campaigns, these award winners leave an indelible mark on the season just gone. Based on reporting from BBC Sport.
