Professional Footballers Australia can announce Melbourne City FC captain Aziz Behich has been voted by his peers as the 2025 Austraffic PFA Men’s Footballer of the Year.
The prestigious award honours the male player who, in the eyes of fellow PFA members, has demonstrated outstanding skill, consistency and impact across club and international duty.
Behich received the most votes ahead of fellow nominees Martin Boyle (Hibernian, Socceroos), Jackson Irvine (St. Pauli, Socceroos), Nicolas Milanovic (Western Sydney Wanderers, Socceroos), Alex Paulsen (Auckland FC, New Zealand), and Ryan Teague (Melbourne Victory, Socceroos).
Across the 2024/25 season, Behich captained Melbourne City FC to the A-League Championship, with City triumphing 1-0 in a Melbourne Derby Grand Final Decider in May.
“It’s a massive honour,” Behich said of the award. “It’s always nice to get an individual award but this is extra special because it’s voted by your teammates and fellow peers and opposition players as well.
“To get that recognition from them just makes it more special. To win the [A—League] Championship on the last day [of the season] was amazing. It was the first time captaining the club, so it was extra special for me.
“I’ve always said that this club means a lot, and I’ve always wanted to repay the club in some way, and that was with a trophy.”
Behich’s form for the national team helped the Socceroos secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Canda, the United States and Mexico.
The left-back’s dramatic 90th minute winner in a crucial AFC Qualifier in Japan in early June was a standout moment, giving the Socceroos a first win over the Samauri Blue in Men’s ‘A’ International for the first time in 10 games and since 2009.
“It was a difficult campaign to qualify, but the game against Japan is something I will never forget, [it was] one of my best goals in the Green and Gold.”
Past winners include some of Australia’s finest footballing talents in Jackson Irvine, Craig Goodwin, Tom Rogic, Jamie Maclaren, Mat Ryan, Aaron Mooy, Mile Jedinak, Robbie Kruse, Brett Holman, Matt McKay, Mark Schwarzer and Tim Cahill.
About the Austraffic PFA Footballer of the Year Awards
The Austraffic PFA Footballer of the Year Awards have been awarded annually since 2009, when former Socceroo Tim Cahill won the inaugural PFA Men’s Footballer of the Year. The PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year was introduced the following season, which was won by Servet Uzunlar in 2010.
About Austraffic
Founded in 1983 (as Australasian Traffic Surveys), Austraffic has undertaken thousands of traffic, transport and pedestrian studies in all states and territories of Australia and New Zealand. Austraffic’s systems and expertise delivers quality data that meets the customer’s needs. Their offices are located throughout Australia, and their traffic engineering and information technology specialists assist customers with the design, analysis and presentation of surveys. For more information visit austraffic.com.au
