Celtic’s annual Player of the Year awards have begun, with the club opening up voting.
In a season that’s been laden with success – with even more potentially on the way – there’s plenty of candidates for the awards up for grabs.
Bhoys can vote on both the Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year, as well as the Men’s and Women’s Goal of the Season.
Kasper Schmeichel, Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda are the nominees for the Men’s Player of the Year.
As for the Women’s Player of the Year, Emma Lawton, Saoirse Noonan, Shannon McGregor and Celya Barclais are the potential winners.
However, there’s one category that’s caused a bit of controversy with Celtic fans.
Celtic fans think Arne Engels is obvious Young Player of the Year
The Men’s Young Player of the Year award has four nominees: Hyunjun Yang, Paulo Bernardo, Arne Engels and Adam Idah.
However, fans think Arne Engels wins the award ‘by default’: “Engels a good first season. The others nowhere near and don’t deserve to be on the shortlist.”
Another Bhoy gave his ranking of the nominees: “I mean, of those, it’s probably Engels. Yang in second, Bernardo struggled with injuries and to hold a place, and Idah being underwhelming.”
While one supporter claimed each award was fairly simple to determine this year: “It’s Engels by a mile. All of them are pretty easy this year to be honest. Maeda POTY, Lawton WPOTY, Engels YPOTY.”
The nominees left most feeling underwhelmed, with some even calling for the club to ‘cancel’ the award entirely.
Arne Engels, 21, joined Celtic in the summer from Augsburg in a club record transfer worth £11m.
He was essentially a replacement for Matt O’Riley, who left Celtic Park to join Brighton. Though he hasn’t quite racked up the numbers O’Riley managed for the Bhoys, he’s had a solid first campaign.
The Belgian midfielder has scored 10 goals and notched 12 assists in 48 games in all competitions for Celtic this season.
Daizen Maeda is the favourite for Celtic’s Player of the Year
The selection for Celtic’s Player of the Year has been viewed a lot more favourably by fans, but there’s still a clear standout in the shape of Daizen Maeda.
The Japanese forward has managed a hugely impressive 31 goals and 9 assists in 45 games in all competitions for Celtic this season.
Maeda is a massive fan favourite and Bhoys made that very clear when the award nominations were announced.
One fan added: “It’s just a formality for Daizen this year and the next hundred.”
However, Alistair Johnston gave Player of the Season shouts to two nominees other than Daizen Maeda.
The awards take place on Sunday 4th May, and if fans are right then Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels look set to have a fantastic night.
If you’re yet to vote, you can do so via Celtic’s website.
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