Tim Krul has become just the fifth goalkeeper in Norwich City history to be named Player of the Season.

The Dutchman is not able to lift the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy at Carrow Road, as is traditional, due to Premier League games being played behind closed doors during the UK’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

The award is also revealed at the end of a disappointing season which saw the Canaries relegated with three matches still to play, on a record low points tally.

However, the 32-year-old has been the standout player for Daniel Farke’s team, showing consistency and leadership throughout, with very few errors in spite of City’s defensive injury problems and lack of top-flight experience throughout the campaign.

He had also earned his first recall to the Netherlands squad in March, since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2015 during an international game in Kazakhstan.

That brought an end to his lengthy time at Newcastle United and after loans at AZ Alkmaar and Ajax in his homeland, Krul operated as number two for Brighton during 2017-18.

He then joined Norwich on a free transfer and, after a shaky start as he rediscovered full match fitness and form, he became an influential part of Farke’s team which roared to the Championship title.

He has played in all but two of City’s top-flight games so far this season, conceding 63 goals in 37 matches, but only Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka (137) has made more than his 128 saves, having not missed a game.

Krul joins legendary figures Kevin Keelan (1973 and 1974) and Bryan Gunn (1986 and 1993) in winning the award, as well as Chris Woods (1984) and Andy Marshall (2001) in winning the award - which was opened up to a vote for City fans earlier this month.

Runner-up to Krul in the voting for the Falcon Cranes Player of the Season award was midfielder Todd Cantwell, who has scored seven goals this season, while the club’s longest serving current player Alex Tettey was in third place as the eighth campaign of his City career comes to a close.

Krul has made 83 appearances for Norwich so far and signed a contract extension until 2022 following promotion last year.


One of his highlights of Krul’s season was saving two penalties in the shoot-out success at Tottenham in the FA Cup fifth round.

The penalty saving expert - who has brought on specifically for a shoot-out at the 2014 World Cup by Holland - also saved two penalties during the 3-1 home defeat to Manchester United in October.

He was denied another in December when he saved from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Carrow Road, only for a marginal encroachment offence to be spotted by VAR and for the spot-kick to be retaken successfully.

FAN OF THE SEASON

Also announced today was the winner of the Michelle Dack Fan of the Season award for 2019-20, with Canaries number one Tim Krul calling Andrew Beasley to deliver the good news.

The award was also voted on by City fans as they made their decision for Player of the Season, with Goerge Goddard finishing second and Ashton Brown in third.

Mr Beasley has won a tour of the Lotus Training Centre and two seats to a pre-match press conference at Colney with head coach Daniel Farke.

The 59-year-old is a lifelong supporter who follows City home and away despite living in Chesterfield since 1979 who has been battling throat cancer, which brought an end to a run of 425 consecutive matches.

Mr Beasley recently finished seven weeks of radiotherapy, resulting in him being unable to speak and eat but is now back home with his family and resting.