Dalglish and Carney Celebrate PFA Merit Awards for Lasting Impact on Football
Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney have been honored with the Professional Footballers' Association's merit awards for 2026, recognizing their profound contributions to football. The PFA Awards ceremony is set to take place in Manchester on Tuesday evening, where the winners of the men's and women's players' player of the year will also be unveiled. Kenny Dalglish had a remarkable career, both as a player and manager. He stands as Scotland's most-capped men's international with 102 appearances, matching Denis Law’s record of 30 goals. His club journey began at Celtic, before he joined Liverpool for a British record fee in 1977. Over 14 years, Dalglish made 515 appearances for Liverpool, winning eight First Division titles and three European Cups. He was also a runner-up for the Ballon d'Or in 1983. Following his appointment as player-manager in 1985, he led the club to three league titles and two FA Cups, including a Double in 1985-86. Beyond his on-field achievements, Dalglish played a critical role in supporting the Merseyside community, particularly following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. He has also raised millions for cancer care through the Marina Dalglish Appeal, established after his wife's breast cancer treatment. At 75, he announced in June 2026 that he is undergoing treatment for cancer. Karen Carney, a former England attacking midfielder, was part of the Arsenal team that achieved a historic quadruple in 2006-07. After two seasons with Chicago Red Stars, she returned to Birmingham City, where she scored an equalizer in the FA Cup final. Carney later joined Chelsea, winning the WSL and FA Cup double in 2017-18 and finishing her career in 2019. On the international front, Carney debuted for England at 17 and scored 32 goals in 144 appearances, contributing to England's third-place finish at the 2015 Women's World Cup. She also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics. Since her retirement, at 39, Carney has transitioned to a successful broadcasting career and was appointed to chair a UK Government review published in 2023 into domestic women's football.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-08-25