Auckland FC goalkeeper Alex Paulsen has become only the third New Zealander to win the PFA’s Young Men’s Footballer of the Year award, for his displays with former club Wellington Phoenix.
Paulsen (22) has been awarded the Austraffic PFA Harry Kewell Medal after his breakout men’s A-League season with the Phoenix in which his strong form helped earn the club a play-offs berth.
The PFA award goes to the young male player voted the best by fellow members of the Professional Footballers’ Association.
The Harry Kewell Medal follows a number of other awards won by Paulsen, including the A-League Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year and the competition’s Fan Player of the Year.
He also shared the A-League Men’s Young Footballer of the Year award with Nestory Irankunda.
“I’m proud to receive such a prestigious award,” Paulsen said. “Only two Kiwis have won this award (previously) so to be up in that bracket is amazing and I’m really proud of receiving such an accolade.
“It means more to be voted by my peers and my teammates. I feel very honoured to receive this award,” Paulsen said.
“Twelve months ago, I wasn’t really – with regards to Wellington Phoenix – in the picture to be considered the No.1, and to be given an opportunity by ‘Chiefy’ (Italiano) to be involved with the Wellington Phoenix and to be the No.1 was fantastic.”
After his A-League season, Paulsen transferred to English Premier League club Bournemouth who have since loaned him to A-League expansion club Auckland FC.
The two previous winners of the Harry Kewell Medal from New Zealand were Paulsen’s fellow All Whites Marco Rojas (2013) and Liberato Cacace (2020).
He is the third goalkeeper win the award, following Socceroos ‘keepers Mat Ryan (2012, 2014, 2015) and Mitch Langerak (2010).
Young Men’s Footballer of the Year
Alex Paulsen (2024)
Jordan Bos (2023)
Denis Genreau (2022)
Connor Metcalfe (2021)
Liberato Cacace (2020)
Chris Ikonomidis (2019)
Daniel Arzani (2018)
Alex Gersbach (2017)
Jamie Maclaren (2016)
Mat Ryan (2015)
Mat Ryan (2014)
Marco Rojas (2013)
Mat Ryan (2012)
Robbie Kruse (2011)
Mitch Langerak (2010)
Nikita Rukavytska (2009)
This story was first published on October 4, 2024.
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