PFAI Players' Player of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland Players' Player of the Year (often called the PFAI Players' Player of the Year, the Players' Player of the Year, or simply the Irish Player of the Year) award is given to the footballer the League of Ireland Premier Division, who is seen to have been the best player of the previous season.[1]
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 prize is regarded as the highest awarded by the PFAI – especially by the players – and is seen as the primary "Player of the Year" award in Ireland.
The award was first given in 1981, and was won by Athlone Town player Padraig O'Connor. The latest winner of the award is Daryl Horgan of Dundalk.
List of winners
Highlighted players are winning the award for a second time.
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
| Year | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 |  Paul Doolin | Derry City |
| 1988 | Paddy Dillon | St. Patrick's Athletic |
| 1987 | Mick Byrne | Shamrock Rovers |
| 1986 | Paul Doolin | Shamrock Rovers |
| 1985 | Tommy Gaynor | Limerick City |
| 1984 | Pat Byrne | Shamrock Rovers |
| 1983 | Martin Murray | Drogheda United |
| 1982 | Paul McGrath | St. Patrick's Athletic |
| 1981 | Padraig O'Connor | Athlone Town |
Breakdown of winners
Winners by club
| Club | Number of wins |
|---|---|
| St. Patrick's Athletic | 8 (1982, 1988, 1990, 1996, 1999, 2008, 2013, 2014) |
| Shelbourne | 6 (1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006) |
| Derry City | 6 (1989, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2011) |
| Shamrock Rovers | 5 (1984, 1986, 1987, 1994, 2009) |
| Bohemians | 3 (1992, 2001, 2003) |
| Drogheda United | 2 (1983, 2007) |
| Sligo Rovers | 2 (2010, 2012) |
| Dundalk | 2 (2015, 2016) |
| Cork City | 1 (1991) |
| Limerick City | 1 (1985) |
| Athlone Town | 1 (1981) |
Winners by country
| Country | Number of wins |
|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | 31 (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) |
 Northern Ireland | 2 (1995, 1997) |
 Cameroon | 1 (2006) |
 Scotland | 1 (2009) |
 Libya | 1 (2011) |