The Professional Footballers' Association
Fans' Player of the Year award, first made
in 2001, goes to the player deemed to have turned in the season's best
overall performance in English league play. The winner is
chosen by vote of the public based on performance in the season ending in the
year the award is made. Any player in England's football leagues is
eligible for the award regardless of his country of birth. From 2008,
the event was sponsored by 'Play 2UP'.