The Professional Footballers Association awards are always the ones that players and managers alike want to win given that it is voted for by their peers and it has been a successful season for Rangers.
Both the men’s and women’s teams could win trebles this season so, it was no surprise to see so many players from each squad represented.
This is a review of the PFA awards and which Rangers players brought trophies back to Ibrox.
PFA awards ceremony sees Rangers dominate
Starting with the men’s team, Jack Butland and James Tavernier were up for player of the year but it was no real surprise to see Lawrence Shankland pick up the award.
Without his goals, Hearts would be closer to relegation than the European places.
This sounds like an exaggeration until you realise that he has contributed around 55% of their league goals this season, a summer move for the Scotland international has to be considered.
Young player of the year went to Kilmarnock’s David Watson, a player who Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement should be keeping an eye on before he becomes too expensive.
When you look back at the previous winners of the award, not many of them haven’t gone on to have successful careers.
Ross McCausland was on the shortlist for his breakthrough season but didn’t quite do enough to repeat Ryan Kent and Malik Tillman’s efforts of recent years.
Like Ianis Hagi, he will have to be content with being the club’s young player of the year instead.
Goal of the season is always more subjective, but the PFA Scotland members went with Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo for his injury time equaliser against Celtic in the recent Old Firm.
There might have been better goals on the shortlist, however, the timing of the goal, the nature of the game and the potential importance of it hasn’t been lost on his peers.
When you see every angle though, it’s easy to see why it won.
A few more of those between now and the end of the season Rabbi.
Rangers women dominate PFA awards as Jo Potter leads the way
The women’s team is even closer to a treble than the men being level on points with Celtic going into today’s Old Firm clash.
Jo Potter, in her first season as a manager has past expectations and instilled a real winning mentality at the club.
From the moment the shortlist was announced, the former England international was always the favourite.
The women then completed a clean sweep of the awards with Rachel Rowe’s commanding performances earning her the PFA women’s player of the year and Mia McAuley’s exciting breakthrough earning her the young player of the year award.
It’s great to see so many Rangers players recognised which means that they must be doing something right.
What they need to do now is what really counts though.
Both teams are more than capable of completing what would be incredible seasons, but they have to want it more than their city rivals.
Jo Potter and Philippe Clement have done remarkable jobs but they will be wanting much more than a league cup medal to show for their efforts.
