Hearts and Motherwell feature heavily on the PFA Scotland shortlist, with no Celtic or Rangers players included and the awards ceremony set for May 3 at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow
The official list of nominees for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year awards has been released, and it marks an unusual shift in Scottish football dynamics. For the first time, neither Celtic nor Rangers have a representative on the main men’s shortlist, while players from Hearts and Motherwell occupy all four slots.
Observers have pointed to strong team performances and individual scoring records as the driving forces behind this selection.
This development comes after a season in which Hearts have impressed in their return under head coach Derek McInnes and Motherwell have outperformed expectations after pre-season relegation predictions.
The nominations reflect votes by players around the league and highlight how influence at club level can convert into recognition in the players’ own awards. The ceremony is scheduled for May 3 at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow, where winners will be announced.
Why the shortlist stands out
The most striking aspect of this year’s list is the absence of names from the two Glasgow giants. Historically, Celtic and Rangers have been heavily represented in the PFA Scotland awards, but this time the voting favored individuals from clubs who reshaped their seasons. The result underlines how team momentum and visible contributions—especially in scoring—can shift peer recognition. The term shortlist here refers to the final group of nominees chosen by league players, and this particular shortlist spotlights the impact of consistent match-winning displays rather than club pedigree alone.
Who made the men’s player of the year list
Hearts duo
Hearts have two forwards named among the nominees: Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland. Together the pair contributed a combined 34 league goals at Tynecastle this season, a striking statistic that underpins Hearts’ run near the top of the table. Voters rewarded their role in a sustained title challenge and their ability to deliver decisive results. The pair’s tally and consistent form were central to Hearts dominating the votes and earning both places on the final list.
Motherwell pair
Motherwell’s transformation under Jens Berthel Askou is reflected in nominations for Tawanda Maswanhise and Elijah Just. Maswanhise sits at the summit of the league’s goalscoring charts with 17 strikes, while Just has recorded 14 goal contributions—a combination of goals and assists—that has propelled Fir Park’s attack. Their inclusion recognizes both individual finishing and the way they have helped lift Motherwell from relegation talk to genuine top-four contention.
Young player category and the women’s nominees
Although Rangers are absent from the main men’s shortlist, they do appear in the SPFL young player of the year race. Nominees include on-loan Tottenham Hotspur winger Mikey Moore, alongside Luke Graham of Dundee, Findlay Marshall of Arbroath and Barney Stewart of Falkirk. The label young player is used here to denote emerging talents eligible for the youth-focused award, and this category often highlights future stars rather than established names.
In the women’s game, the nominees for Scottish Women’s Player of the Year mix established performers and current top scorers. Georgia Timms of Hearts and Katie Wilkinson—the leading scorer for Rangers—join Lee Gibson and Nicole Kozlova from Glasgow City on the shortlist. The women’s nominations underline the competitive landscape across clubs and the standout contributions from both attackers and goalkeepers.
Context, reaction and what it means
The nominations arrive just after the PFA Scotland Team of the Year was announced, where only two Glasgow-based players—Benjamin Nygren and Emmanuel Fernandez—featured in the starting XI. Nygren, who scored 15 league goals in his debut season at Celtic, had been mentioned as a potential contender for the player award but was not included on the final list. This combination of team and individual recognitions suggests a season of surprises and shifting power dynamics within the Scottish game.
As the awards night at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow approaches on May 3, attention will focus on whether the peer votes confirm the season’s narrative: that standout seasons from Hearts and Motherwell players can eclipse the traditional dominance of the Glasgow clubs. The outcome will not only crown individuals but also serve as a barometer of changing fortunes across Scottish football.
