Tottenham forward Gareth Bale just keeps racking up the accolades. A few days after he was named the Professional Footballers' Association Player and Young Player of the Year, the Welshman has now won the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year Award.
Bale is having a stellar season, in which he has scored 24 goals in all competitions. The 23-year-old beat out Luis Suarez for the PFA award, and this time it was Manchester United striker Robin Van Persie who had to settle for second place behind Bale, with the Spurs man gathering 53 percent of the votes.
Van Persie was the winner of the award last year, while playing for Arsenal.
Juan Mata came in third while there were also considerable votes for the likes of Leighton Baines of Everton, Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, Southampton hitman Rickie Lambert, Michu of Swansea and Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick.
"It is a huge honor to receive the Footballer of the Year award from the Football Writers' Association," Bale said.
"It means a lot to win this award when you consider the number of players that have been outstanding for their clubs in the Barclays Premier League this season.
"I have been very fortunate to be playing in such a fantastic team and I owe a lot to my teammates and, obviously, the manager who has shown such faith in me.
"This award has been won in the past by some of the greatest names in football and I consider it a privilege that the FWA has selected me to be named alongside them."
Chairman of the FWA Andy Dunn said it was Bale's ability to wow the spectators that pulled the votes his way.
"In a contest for votes that took so many late twists and turns, Gareth's penchant for the spectacular captured the imagination," Dunn said.
"He is a player who is rising inexorably towards the rarefied levels of world stars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"Twice the PFA Player of the Year and now, two months before his 24th birthday, the FWA Footballer of the Year.
"Let's all hope he lights up the Barclays Premier League for many seasons to come."
Bale became the first player since Cristiano Ronaldo to win the PFA Player of the Year, PFA Young Player of the Year and the FWA Player of the Year awards in the same year.
