Ruben Dias has been named Premier League Player of the Season 2021 following his impressive debut campaign at Manchester City. Dias, 24, joined Manchester City from Benfica last summer and quickly became an integral part of Pep Guardiola’s defense when City broke into the title.
The Portugal international won the award after a vote of the public, the 20 Premier League club captains, and a panel of football experts. Ruben Dias played a role in 15 clean sheets for City, and was on the winning side in 23 of his 32 league appearances, and also earned a spot on the PFA Team of the Year.
Ruben Dias won two trophies during his first campaign in England, the league title, and the Carabao Cup, but ended up on the losing side in the Champions League final when Chelsea beat City 1-0 in Porto. Dias follows in the footsteps of his teammate Kevin De Bruyne, who won the award last year.
Ruben Dias is also the fourth defender in Premier League history to win the award and the second Portuguese after Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007 and 2008. Dias is the first defender/defender to win the award since Steve Nicol in 1989 and is also the third player to win the FWA award, in his first season in England, after Jurgen Klinsmann (1995) and Gianfranco Zola (1997)
The player has made a huge impact since moving from Benfica to City last September. Following his move to the Etihad, Ruben Dias emerged as one of the pillars of the City team that regained the Premier League title, won a fourth consecutive Carabao Cup, and secured a place in our first Champions League final.
A commanding and decisive figure on the field, Dias also epitomized the collective hunger and desire that characterized Pep Guardiola’s team in this extraordinary campaign. Ruben Dias has been named Premier League Player of the Season 2021 following his impressive debut campaign at Manchester City. Dias, 24, joined Manchester City from Benfica last summer and quickly became an integral part of Pep Guardiola’s defense when City broke into the title.
