Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney win PFA Merit Award
Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish and England great Karen Carney have been named the 2026 Professional Footballers' Association Merit Award winners.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: TMcB23
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has announced Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney as the recipients of the 2026 Merit Award. The honour recognizes individuals who have made an exceptional and lasting contribution to the game of football.
The awards ceremony is set to take place in Manchester on Tuesday evening, where the PFA Player of the Year awards for both men's and women's football will also be presented.
Sir Kenny Dalglish is celebrated for a monumental career as both a player and manager. His time at Liverpool defined a golden era for the club, yielding eight league titles and three European Cups. Beyond his on-field success, Dalglish is highly respected for his leadership during the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster and his extensive charitable work for cancer care through the Marina Dalglish Appeal.
Karen Carney enjoyed a decorated career representing Arsenal, Birmingham City, and Chelsea, while earning 144 caps for England. Since retiring from professional play in 2019, Carney has transitioned into a prominent broadcasting career and led a significant government review into the future of domestic women's football in the UK.