Abdoulaye Doucoure wins Everton Fans' Footballer of the Year award

Abdoulaye Doucoure has been crowned the Everton Fans’ Footballer of the Year for 2023.

The midfielder beat three of his fellow team-mates, Jordan Pickford, Dwight McNeil and Jarrad Branthwaite, to scoop the award after a calendar year to remember for all the wrong and then right reasons.

The ECHO offered Everton supporters the chance to vote for their best player for the calendar year, with Doucoure running out the clear winner. The 30-year-old, who signed a new contract with the Blues last month, came well clear of Pickford, who finished second in the voting.

Doucoure kicked off the calendar year by being told to train on his own in the final week of Frank Lampard’s tenure as manager and was overlooked for a defeat by West Ham United after a dressing-room row. However, he was handed a lifeline by Sean Dyche following his appointment.

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After grasping the carrot dangled in front of him, the Mali international hasn’t looked back. He was influential in helping his side beat the drop last season, scoring in the draws with Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, as well as netting twice in the 5-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

But it was his goal against Bournemouth on the final day that will live long in the memory of supporters. The strike during the second-half ultimately preserved the club’s top-flight status.

And Doucoure has continued his impressive form this season; he has scored six times in 20 appearances. The most recent of those strikes came during the 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Goodison.

"Obviously, I am more than happy to stay here. I love the fans, the way