The Southampton Player of the Season award is voted for annually by the club's supporters, who send their choice of player to the Southern Daily Echo, a local newspaper.[15] Since its inception in 1973, 37 different players have won the award.[16][17][18] Six of these players have received the accolade for a second time, and to date only Matt Le Tissier has won the award for a third time.[17][18] Three players have won in consecutive seasons, 28 winners have represented their country at international level, and one winner (Alan Ball) has gone on to become the club's manager.[16] The most recent winner of the award, for the 2017–18 season, is goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.[19]
In recent years, the club has also presented its own Player of the Season award, alongside other end-of-season accolades.[20] The most recent winner of the club-run Fans' Player of the Season award is Southern Daily Echo Player of the Season winner McCarthy, who was also named Players' Player of the Season.[20] Jack Stephens was presented the President's Choice Award by Terry Paine, the award for Goal of the Season was presented to Manolo Gabbiadini for his goal against Swansea City in the penultimate game of the season, Jake Vokins won the Young Player of the Season award, and Kiera Skeels was named Girls' Regional Talent Club Player of the Season.[20]
| Season | Level{{efn-ua|name="structure"|The official level of competition in the structure of the English football league system. | Player | Position{{efn-ua|name="positions"|For a detailed description of playing positions, see association football positions. | Nationality | Apps | Goals | Caps | Notes |
|---|
| 1973–74 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Mick|Channon}} | {{sort|4|Forward}} | {{ENG}} | 607 | 228 | {{sort|046|46†}} | The inaugural winner of the award.}} |
| 1974–75 | Div 2¤ | {{sortname|Mel|Blyth}} | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{ENG}} | 136 | 7 | 0 | — |
| 1975–76 | Div 2 | {{sortname|David|Peach}} | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{ENG}} | 282 | 44 | 0 | Received eight caps for the England under-21 team.}} |
| 1976–77 | Div 2 | {{sortname|Steve|Williams|Steve Williams (footballer born 1958)}} | {{sort|3|Midfielder}} | {{ENG}} | 349 | 27 | {{sort|006|6†}} | — |
| 1977–78 | Div 2 | {{sortname|Alan|Ball|Alan Ball, Jr.}} | {{sort|3|Midfielder}} | {{ENG}} | 234 | 13 | {{sort|072|72†}} | Went on to manage the club between 1994 and 1995.}} |
| 1978–79 | Div 1¤ | {{sortname|Malcolm|Waldron}} | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{ENG}} | 218 | 11 | 0 | Received one cap for the England B team.}} |
| 1979–80 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Phil|Boyer}} | {{sort|4|Forward}} | {{ENG}} | 162 | 61 | {{sort|001|1†}} | — |
| 1980–81 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Ivan|Golac}} | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{YUG}} | 197 | 4 | {{sort|001|1†}} | The first non-English and non-British winner of the award.}} |
| 1981–82 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Kevin|Keegan}} | {{sort|4|Forward}} | {{ENG}} | 80 | 42 | {{sort|063|63†}} | — |
| 1982–83 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Mark|Wright|Mark Wright (footballer born 1963)}} | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{ENG}} | 222 | 11 | {{sort|045|45†}} | — |
| 1983–84 | Div 1 | {{sortname|David|Armstrong|David Armstrong (footballer born 1954)}} | {{sort|3|Midfielder}} | {{ENG}} | 272 | 71 | {{sort|003|3†}} | — |
| 1984–85 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Peter|Shilton}} | {{sort|1|Goalkeeper}} | {{ENG}} | 242 | 0 | {{sort|125|125†}} | — |
| 1985–86 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Peter|Shilton}} (2) | {{sort|1|Goalkeeper}} | {{ENG}} | 242 | 0 | {{sort|125|125†}} | The first player to win the award twice, and in consecutive seasons.}}{{efn-ua|name="twice"|Won the award on two occasions.}} |
| 1986–87 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Glenn|Cockerill}} | {{sort|3|Midfielder}} | {{ENG}} | 358 | 39 | 0 | — |
| 1987–88 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Derek|Statham}} | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{ENG}} | 78 | 4 | {{sort|003|3†}} | — |
| 1988–89 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Jimmy|Case}} | {{sort|3|Midfielder}} | {{ENG}} | 272 | 14 | 0 | Received one cap for the England under-23 team.}} |
| 1989–90 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Matt|Le Tissier}} | {{sort|3|Midfielder}} | {{ENG}} | 540 | 210 | {{sort|008|8†}} | — |
| 1990–91 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Alan|Shearer}} | {{sort|4|Forward}} | {{ENG}} | 158 | 43 | {{sort|063|63†}} | — |
| 1991–92 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Tim|Flowers}} | {{sort|1|Goalkeeper}} | {{ENG}} | 251 | 0 | {{sort|011|11†}} | — |
| 1992–93 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Tim|Flowers}} (2) | {{sort|1|Goalkeeper}} | {{ENG}} | 251 | 0 | {{sort|011|11†}} | name="twice"}} |
| 1993–94 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Matt|Le Tissier}} (2) | {{sort|3|Midfielder}} | {{ENG}} | 540 | 210 | {{sort|008|8†}} | name="twice"}} |
| 1994–95 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Matt|Le Tissier}} (3) | {{sort|3|Midfielder}} | {{ENG}} | 540 | 210 | {{sort|008|8†}} | The first player to win the award three times.}} |
| 1995–96 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Dave|Beasant}} | {{sort|1|Goalkeeper}} | {{ENG}} | 105 | 0 | {{sort|002|2†}} | — |
| 1996–97 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Egil|Østenstad | Ostenstad, Egil} | {{sort|4|Forward}} | {{NOR}} | 109 | 33 | {{sort|018|18†}} | — |
| 1997–98 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Paul|Jones|Paul Jones (footballer, born 1967)}} | {{sort|1|Goalkeeper}} | {{WAL}} | 223 | 0 | {{sort|050|50†}} | — |
| 1998–99 | Div 1 | {{sortname|James|Beattie|James Beattie (footballer)}} | {{sort|4|Forward}} | {{ENG}} | 235 | 76 | {{sort|005|5†}} | — |
| 1999–2000 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Dean|Richards|Dean Richards (footballer)}} | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{ENG}} | 79 | 7 | 0 | Received four caps for the England under-21 team.}} |
| 2000–01 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Wayne|Bridge}} | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{ENG}} | 174 | 2 | {{sort|036|36†}} | — |
| 2001–02 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Chris|Marsden}} | {{sort|3|Midfielder}} | {{ENG}} | 152 | 8 | 0 | — |
| 2002–03 | Div 1 | {{sortname|James|Beattie|James Beattie (footballer)}} (2) | {{sort|4|Forward}} | {{ENG}} | 235 | 76 | {{sort|005|5†}} | name="twice"}} |
| 2003–04 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Antti|Niemi|Antti Niemi (footballer)}} | {{sort|1|Goalkeeper}} | {{FIN}} | 123 | 0 | {{sort|067|67†}} | — |
| 2004–05 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Peter|Crouch}} | {{sort|4|Forward}} | {{ENG}} | 33 | 16 | {{sort|042|42†}} | — |
| 2005–06 | Div 2¤ | {{sortname|Claus|Lundekvam}} | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{NOR}} | 413 | 2 | {{sort|040|40†}} | — |
| 2006–07 | Div 2 | {{sortname|Chris|Baird}} | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{NIR}} | 79 | 3 | {{sort|061|61†}} | — |
| 2007–08 | Div 2 | {{sortname|Andrew|Davies|Andrew Davies (footballer)}} | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{ENG}} | 25 | 0 | 0 | Received one cap for the England under-21 team.}} |
| 2008–09 | Div 2 | {{sortname|Kelvin|Davis|dab=footballer}} | {{sort|1|Goalkeeper}} | {{ENG}} | 301 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009–10 | Div 3¤ | {{sortname|Rickie|Lambert}} | {{sort|4|Forward}} | {{ENG}} | 235 | 117 | {{sort|011|11†}} | — |
| 2010–11 | Div 3 | {{sortname|José|Fonte}} | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{POR}} | 288 | 15 | {{sort|020|20†}} | — |
| 2011–12 | Div 2¤ | {{sortname|Rickie|Lambert}} (2) | {{sort|4|Forward}} | {{ENG}} | 235 | 117 | {{sort|011|11†}} | name="twice"}} |
| 2012–13 | Div 1¤ | {{sortname|Morgan|Schneiderlin}} | {{sort|3|Midfielder}} | {{FRA}} | 261 | 15 | {{sort|015|15†}} | — |
| 2013–14 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Adam|Lallana}} | {{sort|3|Midfielder}} | {{ENG}} | 265 | 60 | {{sort|034|34†}} | — |
| 2014–15 | Div 1 | {{sortname|José|Fonte}} (2) | {{sort|2|Defender}} | {{POR}} | 288 | 15 | {{sort|028|28†}} | name="twice"}} |
| 2015–16 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Shane|Long}}* | {{sort|4|Forward}} | {{IRL}} | 152 | 26 | {{sort|080|80†}} | — |
| 2016–17 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Oriol|Romeu}}* | {{sort|3|Midfielder}} | {{ESP}} | 121 | 5 | 0 | name="romeu"|Received five caps for the Spain under-23 team.}} |
| 2017–18 | Div 1 | {{sortname|Alex|McCarthy}}* | {{sort|1|Goalkeeper}} | {{ENG}} | 25 | 0 | 0 | name="mccarthy"|Received three caps for the England under-21 team.}} |
1. ^{{harvnb|Chalk|Holley|1987|p=9}}
2. ^{{harvnb|Chalk|Holley|1987|p=13}}
3. ^{{harvnb|Chalk|Holley|1987|p=16}}
4. ^1 {{cite web |url=http://www.fchd.info/SOUTHASM.HTM |title=Southampton St Mary's |publisher=Football Club History Database |accessdate=27 November 2012 }}
5. ^{{harvnb|Chalk|Holley|1987|pp=21–35}}
6. ^1 2 3 4 {{cite web |url=http://www.fchd.info/SOUTHAMP.HTM |title=Southampton |publisher=Football Club History Database |accessdate=27 November 2012 }}
7. ^{{harvnb|Chalk|Holley|1987|p=64}}
8. ^{{harvnb|Chalk|Holley|1987|p=5}}
9. ^{{harvnb|Chalk|Holley|1987|p=67}}
10. ^{{harvnb|Chalk|Holley|2003|p=86}}
11. ^{{harvnb|Chalk|Holley|2003|pp=361–363}}
12. ^{{harvnb|Chalk|Holley|2003|pp=286–287}}
13. ^{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39018813 |title=Manchester United 3–2 Southampton |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 February 2017 |accessdate=13 May 2018 }}
14. ^{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8583783.stm |title=Carlisle 1 - 4 Southampton |last=Shemilt |first=Stephan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 March 2010 |accessdate=27 November 2012 }}
15. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/14485634.VOTE__Closest_ever_Player_of_the_Season_award_in_the_balance/ |title=Last chance to vote for your Southampton FC Player of the Season Award 2015/16 |last=Leitch |first=Adam |work=Southern Daily Echo |publisher=Newsquest |date=12 May 2016 |accessdate=12 May 2016 }}
16. ^1 {{cite news |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/14488550.Previous_winners_of_the_Daily_Echo_Southampton_FC_Player_of_the_Season_Award/ |title=Previous winners of the Daily Echo Southampton FC Player of the Season Award |last=Kerins |first=Dan |work=Southern Daily Echo |publisher=Newsquest |date=12 May 2016 |accessdate=12 May 2016 }}
17. ^1 {{harvnb|Illingsworth|2007|p=71}}
18. ^1 {{cite web |url=http://www.southampton-mad.co.uk/sngl/edz4/player_of_the_year_section/index.shtml |title=Player of the Year - Southampton FC |last=Kelly |first=Christian |publisher=Saints Mad |date=11 May 2002 |accessdate=26 December 2012 }}
19. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/16218000.McCarthy_wins_Player_of_the_Season/ |title=Alex McCarthy wins Southampton Player of the Season |work=Southern Daily Echo |date=11 May 2018 |accessdate=13 May 2018 }}
20. ^1 2 {{cite news |url=https://southamptonfc.com/news/2018-05-14/southampton-player-awards-results-201718 |title=McCarthy named Player of the Season |publisher=Southampton F.C. |date=14 May 2018 |accessdate=14 May 2018 }}
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