New Zealand goalkeeper Alex Paulsen has been voted as the 2024 Austraffic PFA Young Footballers of the Year.
The awards consider the performances of professionals playing in the A-Leagues, as well as Australian players plying their trade overseas between June 2023 and June 2024, who are under the age of 23 at the time. Paulsen has been awarded the PFA Harry Kewell Medal after a breakout season in the A-League Men with Wellington Phoenix.
The 22-year-old secured the No.1 spot with Wellington during the 2023-24 preseason, before helping Giancarlo Italiano’s side secure a finals berth with a string oincredible performances in goals.
Paulsen claimed several accolades last season: he was named the A-League Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, the competition’s Fan Player of the Year and shared the ALeague Men’s Young Footballer of the Year honours with Nestory Irankunda.
Paulsen’s form throughout the campaign earned him a place in the 2023-24 PFA ALeague Men Team of the Season. He was named captain of the player-voted team, having received the most votes from his peers.
“I’m proud to receive such a prestigious award,” Paulsen said.
“Only two Kiwis have won this award (previously) so to be up in that bracket is amazing and I’m really proud of receiving such an accolade.
“It means more to be voted by my peers and my teammates. I feel very honoured to receive this award. Twelve months ago, I wasn’t really – with regards to Wellington Phoenix – in the picture to be considered the No.1, and to be given an opportunity by ‘Chiefy’ (Italiano) to be involved with the Wellington Phoenix and to be the No.1 was fantastic.”
At the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, Paulsen signed with English Premier League side Bournemouth, before returning to the A-League Men on loan with new expansion team Auckland FC. Paulsen becomes the third New Zealander to win the Young Men’s Footballer of the Year after fellow All-Whites Marco Rojas (2013) and Liberato Cacace (2020).
Paulsen is also the third goalkeeper to be awarded the honour, following in the footsteps of Socceroos shot-stoppers Mat Ryan (2012, 2014, 2015) and Mitch Langerak (2010).
The PFA will reveal the 2024 Austraffic Men’s and Women’s Footballers of the Year next week.
