By Alexis Monteith 

A season of record achievements by Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw for Manchester City Women has earned her the 2023/24 Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Women’s Players’ Player of the Year award.

The recognition comes even after the Jamaican striker’s season was cut short by injury with three games left to play — a misfortune that arguably may have caused Manchester City to miss out on the Women’s Super League (WSL) title, falling short of winners Chelsea on goal difference.

By that time, however, Shaw had already broken Georgia Stanway’s records to become City’s all-time record scorer in the WSL in January 2024 and the club’s all-time leading scorer across all competitions later in March.

Despite falling to injury before the end of the season her tally of 21 goals, which included three hat-tricks, could not be surpassed and the Reggae Girl was awarded the Golden Boot for her accomplishment.

Additionally, she was presented with the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Women’s Footballer of the Year award in May.

Now, also boasting her Players’ Player of the Year prize, Shaw affirmed in an interview that “it means a lot”.

“I have throughout the season tried to do the best that I can on the pitch and give my best effort,” she said. “So to arrive at the end winning something that shows my hard work and effort, it definitely means a lot.”

When asked what she hopes her success can inspire in the next generation of footballers, the 27-year-old striker replied: “To show that I came from nothing and I’m here. And so if I can do it, they can do it as well. It’s not going to be easy, but you have to believe in yourself and know that you’re capable of achieving great things.

“And yeah, I’m standing here with the Player of the Year award. That just goes to show that if you believe, you can achieve anything.”

Following the presentation, the Manchester City website quoted Manchester City Women Managing Director Charlotte O’Neill as saying that Shaw’s “influence, work rate and example all over the pitch alongside her desire to keep improving have been equally important in helping inspire everyone at the club”.

In another post-award interview with the BBC, the Jamaican footballer affirmed her desire to continue raising her game when asked about her plans for the upcoming season.

“I think for me, just keep having fun, embracing my journey and push my levels even higher because when I look back at the season, there’s a lot of goals that I should have scored,” she laughed.

Shaw’s PFA award was not the only one for Manchester City, as the prestigious club secured other prizes.

On the men’s side, Phil Foden was also named Players’ Player of the Year, while four City players — Kyle Walker, Rodrigo, Phil Foden, and Erling Haaland — were selected for the PFA Premier League Team of the Year. On the women’s side, Shaw, Yui Hasegawa, Lauren Hemp, Khiara Keating, Alex Greenwood, and Laia Aleixandri all made the PFA Barclays Women’s Super League Team of the Year.