David Clifford: Winning third Footballer of the Year award a ‘special feeling’, says Kerry star

Kerry star David Clifford says it is “still a special feeling when you get an award like this” after he was named GAA-GPA Footballer of the Year for the third time in four years on Friday night.

The 26-year-old played a pivotal role in helping the Kingdom secure the National League title, the Munster SFC crown and the Sam Maguire Cup in 2025, including notching nine points in his side’s All-Ireland final win over Donegal at Croke Park in July.

His points total for the Championship in the summer was 8-62.

“I suppose it’s the fact that it’s voted on by the players that makes it a bit extra special,” Clifford told BBC Sport NI’s Thomas Niblock after collecting the prize and the sixth All-Star of his career.

Kerry team-mate Joe O’Connor and Donegal’s Michael Murphy were also nominated for the Player of the Year accolade.

“When you’re going up against one of your own players and one of your good friends it doesn’t make it awkward but you’d love it if you could both win it.

“That’s maybe a bit the way I feel about it this year. Joe had an unbelievable year for us and I think everyone in the group has massive respect for him.

“He wouldn’t be a footballer when he was 18 or 18, he barely played the sport, so to get from there to where he is now it must be special for him.”

Clifford explained that he has been enjoying some “downtime” before his thoughts turn to the forthcoming season.

“As your career goes on you start to understand what you need. For me it’s to throw myself fully into the club season and then to throw myself fully out of football for about a month or so and do what every 25 or 26-year-old does.

“Then there comes a time in December or January when you say to yourself, ‘I’m sick of that now, I need to go back training’.

“That’s generally how it works for me. The looking forward to next year probably hasn’t happened for me yet but it will come shortly down the road.”