Leeds United Supporters' Trust Player of the Year Paul Madeley Memorial Award – 2020/2021 Season

It’s been Leeds United’s first season back in the Premier League after a long 16-year absence, and what a return it’s been, a finish in the top half of the table and unbeaten at home by the so called big six.

I think we speak for everyone when we say we’re all immensely proud of this team’s achievements, and their efforts back in the top flight. Finally, a team we’re all back in love with!

It’s been strange hearing fans from other clubs calling us their “second team” – I’m not sure we like that. The plaudits and the recognition of how hard these players have performed week in week out under Marcelo Bielsa has been somewhat unexpected!

We’ve watched some of the best football being played by Leeds United in years (albeit on our TVs rather than from the stands), driven by a patient and underestimated Bielsa who has also proved his doubters wrong, as many expected his first Premier League Season to be something of a relegation scrap. In reality, he has delivered champagne football from a Championship squad – he’s made the Premier League exciting again, not only for our fans but also for the neutrals.

If you are playing in a team led by Bielsa you know his expectations and demands, and the players have delivered on the pitch – who would have thought going into the season we would finish within 3 points of European football?

We’ve seen new players arrive and make an immediate impact, Kalvin continues to being the engine of the team, and young players have stepped up and grown in maturity such as Pascal Struijk and Illan Meslier.

And then there’s Mr Versatile himself Stuart Dallas, there is no doubt he has been one of the outstanding players not just in our team but in the Premier League – giving 100% wherever he plays. He’s scored 8 goals in his 38 games, and I think we’re all going to remember those for two goals at City as one of our highlights of this season.

The new arrivals in Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, Raphinha and Rodrigo have all fit perfectly into the team, at times struggling with injuries, we’ve yet to see the best of these players. They have all contributed by strengthening our defence and showing their flair in attack – we look so dangerous when these players are all on the pitch.

So how do you pick a ‘player of the year’ out of a side who have all stepped up? Stuart Dallas is an obvious candidate, and quite rightly, having picked up POTY awards from supporters and the players along with goal of the season.

However, at the Trust, we award our ‘player of the year’ slightly differently, after every league game we put up a poll across our social media channels for fans to choose their man of the match. The player with the most MOTM wins over the season takes the Paul Madeley Memorial Award for Player of the Year – won by Kalvin Phillips for the last two seasons.

And this season… Leeds United Supporters’ Trust Player of the Year is RAPHINHA!

It shows the strength of the side when we have 12 different players winning Man of the Match over the course of the season.

Here’s the stats on the winners / runners up:

1. Raphinha won 5 MOTM, and was a runner up 3 times.

2. Kalvin Phillips / Illan Meslier / Patrick Bamford with 4 each,

3. Jack Harrison, Diego Llorente, Stuart Dallas (runner up four times), Gjanni Alioski with 3 each

4. Tyler Roberts, Robin Koch and Luke Ayling with 2 each.

5. Helder Costa was the other winner.

A notable mention to Luke Ayling who had the most runner-up nominations at 7.

And of course, congratulations to Raphinha!

The player who turned down Champions League sides to join Leeds, and has proved to be a fan favourite, and probably our best signing of the season (maybe century?)!

Bringing a little bit of Brazilian samba to Elland Road, Raphinha has lit up the league, the nutmeg against Cahill, six goals and nine assists in 30 games!

Raphinha also won the MOTM poll against Everton at home with a massive 86% of the votes. The highest poll margin over the season.

Congratulations Raphinha!