Braga Wins PFA Scotland Prize at Hearts Fixtures Awards Night

Claudio Braga won the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year at Hearts fixtures’ special awards night, giving the league leaders the top individual prize on a night that also put several other Scottish football winners in the spotlight. The 26-year-old striker has scored 14 goals to help Hearts lead the way.

Braga leads Hearts fixtures

Braga’s award fits the numbers. He has 17 goals in all competitions since arriving from Norwegian second-tier side Aalesund, and his scoring has helped Hearts stay top of the league. Lawrence Shankland, Tawanda Maswanhise and Elijah Just were on the shortlist, but Braga took the vote at the end of the night.

Hearts manager Derek McInnes also had backing from his counterparts in the manager category, while Eva Olid received support in the same discussion. The club’s awards night therefore ended with Hearts carrying the headline prize and recognition across the coaching side as well.

Nicole Kozlova and May Cruft

Nicole Kozlova won the SWPL player of the year award after a season that had already produced nine goals and five assists before a serious knee injury two months ago. That gives the women’s award a very different shape from Braga’s route, with the trophy landing after an injury halted Kozlova’s momentum.

Rangers also left the night with a double in the young player category. Mikey Moore won the SPFL young player award, and May Cruft took the SWPL young player award at 16. In the lower divisions, Josh McPake won the player award, Oli Shaw took the striker award, and John Robertson won the forward award.

Rangers and lower divisions

Hearts got the night’s biggest prize, but the spread of winners showed how wide the recognition ran across the game. Rangers, the women’s game, and the lower divisions all had award winners, while Hearts’ place at the top of the league gave Braga’s individual honour extra weight inside a season still built around results.