Ryan Fenech kisses the MFA Player of the Year trophy. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

A season that saw Ryan Fenech do justice to his potential has ended on an excellent note for the Valletta midfielder who last night was named MFA footballer of the year for the first time in his career.

Long acclaimed as one of the most gifted players in the Premier League, Fenech, who rose to prominence with Ħamrun Spartans, joins the elite club of players who have won the most prestigious individual accolade in domestic football.

The lanky midfielder, capped 38 times by Malta, follows in the footsteps of past and present Valletta stalwarts who have etched their name on the trophy, including team-mate Roderick Briffa, Gilbert Agius, the current City coach, Nicky Saliba and Leonard Farrugia.

Fenech’s success comes after an eventful season in which the 28-year-old international inspired Valletta to a league and cup double.

Taking more responsibility after being handed the captain’s armband by former Valletta coach Mark Miller, Fenech turned in a series of enterprising performances, particularly in the final months of the season, as the Whites defied the odds by winning the league title on the last day of the championship after beating long-time leaders Birkirkara 2-0.

The race for the Malta FA footballer of the year award was another shoot-off between Valletta and Birkirkara players with Fenech, who totalled 104 points, seeing off the challenge of Paul Fenech (76) to deny the Stripes midfielder back-to-back titles after the latter won the honour last year.

The much-awaited announcement of the 2013/14 winner of the MFA footballer of the year award was made during the Awards Night ceremony, held at the National Stadium.

A beaming Ryan Fenech was presented with the bronze trophy by Norman Darmanin Demajo, president of the Malta FA.

“This honour means a lot to me,” Fenech told Times of Malta last night.

“It was my wish to end a superb season on a top note but I was happy to be among the five candidates. To win the award caps an unforgettable year in which I won the double with Valletta, got married and also had my first child,” added Fenech who dedicated the award to his late uncle Genio Fenech, who passed away three years ago.

The other candidates for the MFA footballer of the year award were Birkirkara duo Rowen Muscat and Edward Herrera and Valletta defender Jonathan Caruana.

While the main award went to a Valletta player, Birkirkara swept the other accolades.

Paul Zammit, the Birkirkara mentor, was named coach of the year, fending off competition from Dutchman Andre Paus who masterminded Valletta’s title push after taking charge of the team in January. Paus is now coaching Anorthosis in Cyprus.

Sliema’s Alfonso Greco was third.

Zach Muscat, the Birkirkara defender, scooped the best young player award. The other candidates in this category were Hibs midfielder Bjorn Kristensen, last year’s winner, and Ryan Scicluna, of Birkirkara.

The foreign player award also went to a player who donned the Birkirkara shirt last season as Brazilian Jhonnattann gathered most points in the poll ahead of former team-mate Shola Shodiya Haruna and Valletta’s Denni.

Jhonnattann topped the Premier League scoring charts on 21 goals, level with Hibs striker Luis Edison Tarabai and Sliema’s Stanley Ohawuchi, but he doesn’t seem to figure in the club’s plans for this season.

The winners

MFA footballer of the year: Ryan Fenech (Valletta).
Coach of the year: Paul Zammit (Birkirkara).
Young player of the year: Zach Muscat (Birkirkara)
Foreign player of the year: Jhonnattann (Birkirkara).
Division One player of the year: Raphael Kooh-Sohna (Pietà).
Division Two player of the year: Timothy Thomas (Senglea).
Division Three player of the year: Giovanni Galea (Sirens).
Women’s League best player: Dorianne Theuma (Hibs).
Best youth player: Jurgen Degabriele (Hibs).
GFA player of the year: Ferdinando Apap (Xewkija).
Fair Play award: Żabbar St Patrick.
President Award: Joe Cassar (UEFA Under-17 Championship tournament director).
Goal of the year: Edward Herrera (Birkirkara vs Hibernians).

Footballer of the Year

Last 10 winners
2004/2005: Andrew Cohen (Hibs)
2005/2006: Andrew Cohen (Hibs)
2006/2007: Gilbert Agius (Valletta)
2007/2008: Kevin Sammut (Marsaxlokk)
2008/2009: Clayton Failla (Hibs)
2009/2010: Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara)
2010/2011: Roderick Briffa (Valletta)
2011/2012: Clayton Failla (Hibs)
2012/2013: Paul Fenech (Birkirkara)
2013/2014: Ryan Fenech (Valletta)

BOV Premier League

2014-15 Opening programme
August 16-17: Qormi vs Naxxar; Floriana vs Hibs; Balzan vs Żebbuġ; Tarxien vs Sliema; Birkirkara vs Pietà; Mosta vs Valletta.