Stuart Dallas named NIFWA International Personality of the Year

Although the coronavirus pandemic meant that Northern Ireland played just six times during the campaign, with first the Euro 2020 play-offs and then the finals themselves postponed, Dallas was highly impressive throughout and that won him the vote of the writers.

At club level the former Crusaders winger enjoyed a stellar 2019-20 season as a key member of the Leeds United team that gained promotion to the Premier League and he is now showing his ability while mixing with some of the best talents in the world in England’s top flight.

With the award comes a unique place in history for the 29-year-old Cookstown-born star. Having claimed a double awards success when he was named both Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year back in 2011, Dallas becomes the first to make it a hat trick by adding to international personality honour to those prizes.

“I’m very proud to be selected for this award,” said Dallas.

“Going from winning the Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year while I was with Crusaders to winning the International Personality of the Year award means a lot to me.

“When I look back to my time in the Irish League the time has passed by so quickly, but a lot of things have happened throughout my career since then. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and hopefully it is still progressing.

“Over the last year or two I think my game has come on a lot, especially since Marcelo Bielsa arrived at Leeds. Certainly over the last year I feel as if I’ve been playing the best football of my career.

“I’m getting the opportunity now to play in the Premier League and hopefully I can keep progressing. We have started well and hopefully I can keep pushing on.”

As well as his undoubted talent showing through, Dallas has displayed impressive versatility, slotting into defensive and midfield positions on both the right and left sides for club as well as country, which have made him an asset to both squads.

“At times versatility can work against you because you don’t get a settled position,” said Dallas.

“You want to play in a position where you know you’re going to play week in, week out and make that position your own, but for me it’s actually worked for me because I am able to play in so many positions.

“When we played the Netherlands at home Michael O’Neill had me in three or four different positions during the 90 minutes and I suppose it just comes easy for me to adapt to it because of the work that Marcelo Bielsa has helped me with at Leeds.

“It’s something that I enjoy doing as well and it’s good to have that.”

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