Dalglish and Carney win PFA Merit Awards

What the report says

Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney have been named the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Merit Award winners for 2026, with the honour recognising a lasting contribution to football. According to BBC Sport, the award follows previous recipients including Sir Gareth Southgate and Emma Hayes, and will be presented at the PFA Awards ceremony in Manchester on Tuesday evening, when the men’s and women’s players’ player of the year awards will also be announced.

Dalglish, a Liverpool and Scotland icon, is one of the most decorated figures in British football. BBC Sport reported that he scored 30 goals in 102 men’s internationals for Scotland and won major honours with Celtic, Liverpool and later Blackburn, while also succeeding as a manager with league titles and cup wins. His wider legacy includes his response to the Hillsborough disaster and charitable work through the Marina Dalglish Appeal. The article also noted that Dalglish, 75, said in June 2026 that he is undergoing cancer treatment.

Carney, who won 144 caps for England and scored 32 goals, was described as one of the leading midfielders of her generation. BBC Sport said she won major club honours with Arsenal, Birmingham City and Chelsea, and featured at eight major tournaments for England, including the 2015 Women’s World Cup and the 2012 Olympics with Great Britain. Since retiring in 2019, she has worked in broadcasting and contributed to a UK Government review of domestic women’s football. The recognition highlights both players’ influence on the sport on and off the pitch.