Filipino goalkeeper Neil Etheridge’s historic season in the English Premier League may have ended with Cardiff City FC relegated, but the national team star’s individual brilliance certainly did not go unnoticed.
The Welsh club feted Etheridge as its Player of the Year last Sunday night during its season-ending awards night—a fitting recognition for the Filipino player, who kept his team afloat for the majority of the season with his shot-stopping.
It has been a remarkable rise for Etheridge, who struggled to find a club five years ago only to resurrect his career when he signed with third division team Walsall.
Etheridge’s improvement continued when he moved to Cardiff, which he helped get promoted last year when the Welsh club placed second in the English Championship.
With nine clean sheets from 37 matches so far, Etheridge staked his claim as one of the top shot-stoppers in his first season as a starter for a Premier League club.
He still has the second most number of saves this season with 127, while his three penalty saves are tied for the league-best with England international Jordan Pickford of Everton.