Matt McKay strikes double at Australian Football Awards

Socceroos midfielder Matt McKay capped his remarkable rise after being named Australia's male footballer of the year.


McKay, 28, took out the top honour at the Australian Football Awards in Sydney on Tuesday night after a whirlwind 12 months that saw him lead Brisbane Roar to the A-League title and star for the Socceroos at the Asian Cup.


McKay made it a double by also taking out the Professional Footballer's Australia (PFA) footballer of the year award, voted on by his peers.


He received 329 votes to finish ahead of Brett Holman (194), Tim Cahill (185) and 2010/11 A-League Johnny Warren medallist, Adelaide's Marcos Flores (109).


"I'm still pinching myself," McKay said.


"This time last year I got my first call-up to a full-strength Socceroos, I was excited just to meet Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer and now they are my mates.


"It's a huge honour for me and I want to be part of the Socceroos for a long time."


McKay was last month rewarded for his fine form by sealing a switch to Scottish giants Rangers and remains a regular starter for the Socceroos under Holger Osieck after his breakthrough performances in Qatar in January.


Holman capped a fine season of his own by being voted the Football Media Association's player of the year.


The AZ Alkmaar midfielder has completed a remarkable transformation to go from an often-maligned fringe player to become one of the Socceroos' most reliable stars.


Dutch-based Brett Holman was named the Football Media Association of Australia's player of the year after a stellar run of form that saw him repeatedly turn in world-class performances for the national team. Holman, who has also proved his ability in the Dutch league, was one of the Socceroos' leading stars at the Asian Cup finals in Qatar in June.


Similarly, McKay has been a stand-out for the Socceroos since becoming a regular over the past year, capping his national team appearances with a string of top performances at the Asian Cup.


Australian women's team defender Elise Kellond-Knight was named female footballer of the year, while Socceroo Robbie Kruse won the PFA's Harry Kewell medal for best young player (under-23). Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Matt Ryan and Matilda's utility Caitlin Foord were named under-20s footballers of the year.