PFA Awards fete Kerr, Mooy, Salisbury
Sep 17, 2017 - 11:55 PM Sam Kerr and Aaron Mooy have been crowned as the country's best soccer players at the Professional Footballers Australia's (PFA) Players' Awards in Newcastle.Kerr's sensational form for club and country in 2017 delivered the Western Australian a second award, after her first in 2013.
The 24-year-old is a runaway leader in the US National Women's Soccer League goalscoring charts and has been a huge part of the Matildas' surge up the world rankings.
"To be voted by your fellow players as the PFA Footballer of the Year is a huge honour," Kerr said at Sunday night's awards ceremony.
"I have been fortunate to enjoy so many great experiences with the Matildas and with my clubs over the past 12 months and this just tops it off."
Kerr scored in Australia's 2-1 win over Brazil on Sunday in Penrith, with the Matildas aiming to beat the South Americans for the third time in a row when they meet at Newcastle International Sports Centre on Tuesday night.
A humbled Mooy is the first player to be named PFA Men's Footballer of the Year twice, after claiming the award last year.
"These awards are extra special to players because they are voted by your peers," Mooy said.
"I'm very thankful for the support of my family, my club and my teammates at Huddersfield and with the Socceroos and all the players who voted for me."
Mooy helped Huddersfield Town earn promotion to the English Premier League last season and is currently starring in the English top flight.
Matildas great Cheryl Salisbury was also honoured as the first woman to receive the Alex Tobin Medal, the players' highest honour.
Salisbury, who with 151 appearances leads all-comers for most caps for a national team, joins an illustrious honour roll including Johnny Warren and Harry Kewell
"I'm very proud to be the first female to win the award and to receive it in my home town with my family and friends with me was a privilege," Salisbury said.
"After having been out of the sport for close to 10 years to be recognised by the current generation is a phenomenal thing."
Socceroos left-back Alex Gersbach and Matildas midfielder Alex Chidiac were recognised as the best young players over the past 12 months.
The inaugural Community Medal went to Western Sydney Wanderers captain Robbie Cornthwaite for his charity work with Beards of Hope.
PFA AWARD WINNERS
* Cheryl Salisbury, PFA Alex Tobin OAM Medal
* Aaron Mooy, PFA Men's Footballer of the Year
* Sam Kerr, PFA Women's Footballer of the Year
* Alex Gersbach, PFA Harry Kewell Medallist
* Alex Chidiac, PFA Young Women's Footballer of the Year
* Robbie Cornthwaite, PFA Community Medallist.
Source: AAP
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