Professional Footballers Association of Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland (PFAI) is the representative body for professional and semi-professional footballers
in Ireland
. Players from all nationalities in the League of Ireland
are represented, not just Irish players. It is a member of FIFPro
; the international body for similar organisations, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
. The PFAI's current chairman is UCD's Tony McDonnell
.
The highest profile activities of the PFAI is the annual Players' Player of the Year
and Young Player of the Year
awards. These winners of these awards are voted for by member players and members cannot vote for one of their clubmates. Paul McGrath
is currently the only man to win the award in Ireland and also win the PFA Players' Player of the Year
award in England.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Players from all nationalities in the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
are represented, not just Irish players. It is a member of FIFPro
FIFPro
The Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels , usually known by the abbreviation FIFPro, is a worldwide representative organization for professional football players. At the moment there are 43 national players associations who are members of FIFPro...
; the international body for similar organisations, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions , formed in 1959 by the merger of the Irish Trade Union Congress and the Congress of Irish Unions , is a national trade union centre, the umbrella organisation to which trade unions in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland affiliate.-Influence:There...
. The PFAI's current chairman is UCD's Tony McDonnell
Tony McDonnell
Anthony "Tony" McDonnell was a footballer for Irish side, UCD.A former St Kevin's Boys player McDonnell made his League of Ireland debut on the 27th of March 1994 at Abbeycartron in a 2-1 win over Longford Town....
.
The highest profile activities of the PFAI is the annual Players' Player of the Year
PFAI Players' Player of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland Players' Player of the Year award is given to the footballer in the top-flight of Irish football, the League of Ireland, whom is seen to have been the best player of the previous season.The...
and Young Player of the Year
PFAI Young Player of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland Players' Young Player of the Year award is given to the footballer in the top-flight of Irish football, the League of Ireland, whom is seen to have been the best player of the previous...
awards. These winners of these awards are voted for by member players and members cannot vote for one of their clubmates. Paul McGrath
Paul McGrath (footballer)
Paul McGrath is a retired Irish footballer, who played as a defender. McGrath is widely recognised as one of the greatest players to have ever come out of Ireland....
is currently the only man to win the award in Ireland and also win the PFA Players' Player of the Year
PFA Players' Player of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the year in English football...
award in England.