PFA Awards: Merit to Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney

Sir Kenny Dalglish, 75, has won several titles with Liverpool in his career and is Scotland's most capped player. His achievements include eight First Division titles and three European Cups in 515 appearances. Dalglish's influence is profound not only on Liverpool but also on global football.

Why it matters

Awarding Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney with the PFA Merit Award recognizes their contribution to global football. Dalglish, who has been an important player and manager for both Liverpool and Celtic, has left an indelible mark in the history of football. This award not only appreciates his career, but also becomes a source of inspiration for young players.

Key points

• PFA Awards: Merits to Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney.
• Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney have been awarded the 2026 Merit Award by the Professional Footballers' Association. The award recognizes his contribution to football.
• PFA Awards: Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney win Merit Award - BBC Sport.

Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney have been announced as the winners of the 2026 Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Merit Awards. The award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to football. The PFA awards ceremony will be held in Manchester on Tuesday evening, where awards for the men's and women's best players will also be announced.

Sir Kenny Dalglish enjoyed an illustrious career as both player and manager. He is Scotland's most capped male international, with 102 caps. He has scored 30 goals, equal to Dennis Law's national team record. At club level, he began a trophy-laden spell with Celtic, then joined Liverpool for a British record fee in 1977 and became an integral part of the club's golden age. Over the next 14 years, Dalglish won eight First Division titles and three European Cups in 515 appearances for Liverpool and finished runner-up for the Ballon d'Or in 1983.

After taking over as player-manager in 1985, he led the club to three league titles and two FA Cups, including the double in 1985–86. After retiring from playing in 1990, Dalglish resigned as manager of Liverpool in February 1991 and led Blackburn to the Premier League title in 1995. He then had stints at Celtic, Newcastle and Liverpool, where he won the League Cup in 2012.

Dalglish, who is 75, announced in June 2026 that he was undergoing treatment for cancer.

Meanwhile, Karen Carney, a former English attacking midfielder, won the historic quadruple as a part of the Arsenal team in 2006–07. They won the League, FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Women's Cup. He spent two seasons with the Chicago Red Stars before returning to his home club Birmingham City in 2011. Carney scored the equalizing goal in extra time in Birmingham's FA Cup victory the following season.

After joining Chelsea in late 2015, Carney won the WSL and FA Cup double in 2017–18 and later served as club captain until the end of her career in 2019. At international level, Carney made his debut for England in 2005 at the age of 17. She scored 32 goals in 144 appearances for the Lionesses and helped England finish third at the 2015 Women's World Cup.

Carney appeared in eight major tournaments with England, while he also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics. After retiring from football, Carney pursued a career as a broadcaster and analyst and was appointed by the UK government to conduct an independent review on the future of domestic women's football in 2023.

What will happen next

Dalglish and Carney will be honored at the PFA awards ceremony, where the names of other key players will also be revealed. The event is an important opportunity to compete among global football clubs and highlight their contributions. Following the ceremony, more information is expected about Dalglish's health condition and his cancer treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which award did Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney receive?

He has been declared the winner of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Merit Award for 2026.

How many goals has Sir Kenny Dalglish scored in his career?

He has scored 30 goals for the Scotland national team.

How many appearances did Sir Kenny Dalglish make for Liverpool?

He made 515 appearances for Liverpool.

With which team did Karen Carney win the quadruple?

He won the quadruple as a part of the Arsenal team in 2006-07.

When did Sir Kenny Dalglish's cancer treatment start?

He announced in June 2026 that he was undergoing treatment for cancer.

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