Pascal Gross voted WAB Brighton Player of the Season 2023-24
History is made. With 50 percent of the vote, Pascal Gross is a landslide winner of WAB Brighton Player of the Season 2023-24. In the process, he becomes the first person ever to win the award three times.
Gross previously took home the ultimate honour in 2017-18 and 2022-23. This was easily his most convincing victory so far and a fine way to sign off from the Albion, if indeed he does return to Germany as the rumour mill seems to suggest.
Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund are said to be very interested. It would not be a surprise to see more Bundesliga clubs consider a move if Gross were to star for Germany at Euro 2024.
Gross for his part has never hid his desire to finish his career back home. And if that is what he wants to do this summer, Brighton would surely not stand in his way.
Pascal Gross has earned that right for his service over seven fantastic seasons in which he has staked a claim to be the greatest Brighton player ever.
Gross made 47 appearances across all competitions in 2023-24. He netted five times, overtaking Glenn Murray and Neal Maupay to become the club’s record Premier League goal scorer. The 13 assists Gross managed meanwhile made 2023-24 his most productive campaign in an Albion shirt.
His best performance of the campaign came in the 4-1 demolition of Crystal Palace, further cementing his legend status by helping the Seagulls dismantle their arch rivals.
Gross set up two of the Brighton goals against Palace. He showcased his set piece prowess with a pinpoint corner for Lewis Dunk to head home for the opener inside of only three minutes.
It was then Gross’ tenacity which led the Albion’s press as the Eagles kicked off having just gone 2-0 down. Gross regained possession and less than 60 seconds later was teeing up Facundo Buonanotte, who put Brighton 3-0 ahead.
Other highlights included a goal and an assist from left back in the 2-1 win over Brentford, highlighting Der Kaiser’s versatility and willingness to do a job anywhere on the pitch.
When Lewis Dunk was injured for the visit of AEK Athens to the Amex, Pascal Gross took the honour of being the first captain to lead Brighton out for a Europa League game.
Making his 2023-24 numbers all the more impressive is the fact Gross did not register a goal or assist in any of the final 15 matches of the campaign.
This was down to tiredness. Gross was so important to Roberto De Zerbi that whereas every other player with the exceptions of Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke were subject to heavy rotation, Der Kaiser barely missed a minute.
Speaking of Van Hecke, it was the Dutch defender who finished second to Gross in the 2023-24 WAB Brighton Player of the Season vote.
Van Hecke had spent 2022-23 as fourth choice centre back behind Dunk, Levi Colwill and Adam Webster. Colwill’s return to Chelsea and an early injury to Webster gave Van Hecke his opportunity and from September’s 3-1 win over Newcastle United, there was no looking back.
Two fantastic assists in FA Cup games against Stoke City and Sheffield United showcased his ability to step out of defence and contribute further up the pitch.
He was even trusted by Roberto De Zerbi to moonlight as a central midfielder at Fulham in March when the Albion’s injury crisis was at its nadir.
As well as shining with his footballing ability, Van Hecke stepped up as a leader at times. When Dunk was sent off at Nottingham Forest for calling referee Anthony Taylor a bald prick, Van Hecke was magnificent.
He helped a makeshift back four of Joel Veltman, Jack Hinshelwood, Gross and himself see out the final 20 minutes amid a barrage of pressure from the Tricky Trees.
That performance at the City Ground led many Brighton supporters to hail Van Hecke a future Brighton captain – presuming he has not been signed by one of the big boys by the time Dunk winds down his Albion career.
Joao Pedro took third place in WAB Brighton Player of the Season 2023-24 after a fine debut campaign in Albion colours.
A club-record £30 million on a forward who scored only 11 times in the Championship for Watford last season seemed like a lot of money in the summer of 2023.
But Pedro more than justified the fee, breaking the 20 goal barrier despite missing eight weeks of the season injured.
Had he remained fit for the entire campaign, he would have eclipsed Michael Robinson’s club-record of 22 goals in a top flight season.
Pedro developed a particular liking for Europa League football. He lit up the European stage with six goals from six appearances, including an ice-cool last minute penalty to salvage a draw in the intense atmosphere of Marseille’s Stade Velodrome.
His 100 percent record from the penalty spot certainly helped his tally. Pedro though was more than a spot scoring machine. He actually earned almost half the penalties he scored himself.
Combining the silky samba skills you expect from a Brazilian with the aerial ability of a traditional English target man, the sky seems the limit for Pedro.
At only 22-years-old, it would not be a surprise if he were the next big-money departure from the Amex to one of the European Super League Elite Six.
WeAreBrighton.com Brighton Player of the Season 2023-24 – The Results
- Pascal Gross – 54.35%
- Jan Paul van Hecke – 18.55%
- Joao Pedro – 14.12%
- Billy Gilmour – 7.88%
- Simon Adingra – 3.11%
- Lewis Dunk – 1.97%
Previous Winners: Pascal Gross (2023, 2018), Marc Cucurella (2022) Yves Bissouma (2021), Lewis Dunk (2020), Shane Duffy (2019), Anthony Knockaert (2017), Bruno (2016), Inigo Calderon (2015) Stephen Ward (2014), Liam Bridcutt (2013, 2012), Glenn Murray (2011), Andrew Crofts (2010).
