PFA Scotland Player of the Year Awards 2026

After an outstanding breakout year in Scotland, Heart of Midlothian forward Claudio Braga was rewarded with the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year award. The Portuguese, nominated alongside teammate Lawrence Shankland and Motherwell duo Tawanda Maswanhise and Elijah Just, edged out the others with 17 goals across all competitions. Arriving from Norwegian second tier side Aalesunds in the summer, Braga has quickly become a fan favourite at Tynecastle and has been central to their shock Scottish Premiership title push.

Glasgow City’s Nicole Kozlova picked up the PFA Scotland SWPL Player of the Year award, beating fellow nominees Katie Wilkinson, Georgia Timms and Lee Gibson. Despite a devastating ACL injury prematurely ending her season in March, the Ukrainian dazzled her opponents with her early year form – recording 14 G/A in the first 18 league games. Capable of moments of brilliance both domestically and in European competition, Kozlova will be back for more.

St Johnstone winger Josh McPake was selected by his fellow professionals as the best player in Scotland’s second tier as he was named PFA Scotland Championship Player of the Year. His 19 goals and 5 assists from left wing earned him the award over a strong field of nominees which included Andrew Tod, Ben Stanway and Jamie Gullan. The Scot, who has signed a pre-contract with Premiership leaders Hearts for next season, will now have the opportunity to test himself against Scotland and Europe’s elite.

Oli Shaw enjoyed the best goalscoring form of his career for Hamilton Academical this campaign and was rewarded with the PFA Scotland League One Player of the Year award. Shaw netted 19 league goals and 23 in all competitions as he pipped Kieran Shanks, Ross Taylor and Alfie Stewart to the gong. The striker will be hoping to add a few more to his tally before the end of the campaign as Hamilton prepare for the relegation play-offs to secure their League One status for next season.

With 32 goals in all competitions as East Kilbride secured back-to-back promotions, John Robertson was chosen as PFA Scotland League Two Player of the Year. The winger pipped Mark Stowe, Wullie Gibson and Lewis Reid to the award with an impressive tally of 20 League Two goals from right midfield. Robertson revealed on the night that he had signed a pre-contract agreement with Scottish Championship outfit Raith Rovers, whom he netted a hattrick against in the League Cup.

18-year-old Mikey Moore had an excellent loan season in Scotland as he was named PFA Scotland SPFL Young Player of the Year. The Tottenham Hotspur-loanee was a standout performer for Rangers, beating Barney Stewart, Luke Graham and Findlay Marshall to the award. It has been an educational first full year of senior football for the winger who caught the eye of fans and opponents with his skill, close control and bravery.

At just 16 years of age, May Cruft became the youngest-ever winner of PFA Scotland SWPL Young Player of the Year. The midfielder, who only signed professional terms last summer, was nominated alongside Laura Berry, Lisa Forrest and Rosie Livingstone. The England youth international is a regular in Rangers’ midfield despite still being at school and studying for her Highers.

In his first season as Heart of Midlothian head coach, Derek McInnes picked up the PFA Scotland SPFL Manager of the Year award. 12 years on from winning it last, McInnes beat Falkirk’s John McGlynn and Stenhousemuir’s Gary Naysmith to the prize, becoming just the fourth manager to win the award more than once. The Tynecastle boss could become the first non-Old Firm manager to win a top-flight title since Sir Alex Ferguson more than four decades ago.

After five years in the role, Heart of Midlothian head coach Eva Olid will leave the club at the end of the season as PFA Scotland SWPL Manager of the Year. After her best season yet, Olid was voted as winner ahead of Glasgow City’s Leanne Ross and Partick Thistle’s Gary Holt. The Spaniard is hoping to create history by guiding her side to a first-ever SWPL title – the Jambos are four points clear with three games remaining.

The 2026 Special Merit Award went to Scotland head coach Steve Clarke. The 62-year-old led Scotland to a historic first World Cup qualification in 28 years when his team bested Denmark in November to top Group C. With three major tournament qualifications under his belt, the man who has managed more Scotland games than anyone else is hoping to create more history by becoming the first Scotland manager to progress beyond the group stages.