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 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 Dylan Watts of Shamrock Rovers.
Highlighted players are winning the award for a second time.
| Year | Player | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shamrock Rovers | |||
| St Patrick's Athletic | |||
| Shamrock Rovers | |||
| Bohemians | |||
| Shamrock Rovers |
| Year | Player | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shamrock Rovers | |||
| Dundalk | |||
| Cork City | |||
| Dundalk | |||
| Dundalk | |||
| St Patrick's Athletic | |||
| St Patrick's Athletic | |||
| Sligo Rovers | |||
| Derry City | |||
| Sligo Rovers |
| Year | Player | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shamrock Rovers | |||
| St Patrick's Athletic | |||
| Drogheda United | |||
| Shelbourne | |||
| Derry City | |||
| 2004 | Jason Byrne | Shelbourne | |
| Shelbourne | |||
| 2003 | Glen Crowe | Bohemians | |
| Shelbourne | |||
| Bohemians | |||
| 2000 | Pat Fenlon | Shelbourne |
| Year | Player | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Patrick's Athletic | |||
| Shelbourne | |||
| Derry City | |||
| St Patrick's Athletic | |||
| Derry City | |||
| Shamrock Rovers | |||
| Donal O'Brien | Derry City | ||
| Bohemians | |||
| Cork City | |||
| Mark Ennis | St Patrick's Athletic |
| Year | Player | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Paul Doolin | Derry City | |
| Paddy Dillon | St Patrick's Athletic | ||
| Shamrock Rovers | |||
| Shamrock Rovers | |||
| Limerick City | |||
| Shamrock Rovers | |||
| Drogheda United | |||
| St Patrick's Athletic | |||
| Athlone Town |
| Club | Number of wins | |
|---|---|---|
| St Patrick's Athletic | 9 (1982, 1988, 1990, 1996, 1999, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2023) | |
| Shamrock Rovers | 9 (1984, 1986, 1987, 1994, 2009, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024) | |
| 6 (1989, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2011) | ||
| 6 (1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006) | ||
| 4 (1992, 2001, 2003, 2021) | ||
| 3 (2015, 2016, 2018) | ||
| 2 (1991, 2017) | ||
| 2 (2010, 2012) | ||
| 2 (1983, 2007) | ||
| 1 (1985) | ||
| 1 (1981) |
| Country | Number of wins | |
|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | 39 (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, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) | |
| 2 (1995, 1997) | ||
| 1 (2006) | ||
| 1 (2009) | ||
| 1 (2011) |