Skysports.com's staff have raided their memory banks to look back at the past 12 months.
The best and worst from another vintage 12 months
As another intriguing 12 months in the football calendar draws to its close
skysports.com's football reporters have raided their memory banks to pluck out highlights, lowlights and Phil Brown's singing. Manchester City's axing of Mark Hughes intimates next year will be no different in terms of controversy and excitement, but for now we're concentrating on all things 2009.
Player of the Year - Wayne Rooney
A difficult decision when taking into account the fluctuating form and injuries of Didier Drogba, Steven Gerrard and, ignoring ridiculously soppy sentiment, Ryan Giggs, so Wayne Rooney has to be the standout performer.
Even at the age of 24, the Manchester United and England striker has fulfilled the potential of his teenage years and is now consistently world class. Rooney possesses every attribute. Pace and power but, at the same time, finesse, skill and vision have been honed from the streets of Croxteth.
The former Everton hero has matured in 2009, aided by becoming a father, and his form has been a mirror image as he helped United to the Premier League title and UEFA Champions League final in 2008/09, while also appearing in the successful Carling Cup campaign.
In 2009/10 he has emerged from the departing shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo and was also close to unplayable during England's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign as he scored nine goals in nine matches.
Controversy of the Year - Chelsea's Champions League exit
Chelsea's UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona in May had a bit of everything. A wonder goal from Michael Essien to break the deadlock and put the Blues in control, a dramatic late equaliser from Andres Iniesta to break the hosts' heart and a couple of penalty shouts which fell on deaf ears.
The man in charge of keeping the calm at Stamford Bridge was Norwegian official Tom Henning Ovrebo. It is fair to say he was not the most popular man in West London that night, with Chelsea of the opinion that they were robbed of a place in the final.
At the final whistle Ovrebo was mobbed by irate players, with Didier Drogba the most vocal in his disapproval. The unsightly scenes earned widespread condemnation, while Drogba and Jose Bosingwa were handed European bans for their involvement in the melee.
Signing of the year - Jermain Defoe
Harry Redknapp may not have dipped into the bargain bin when he brought Defoe back to White Hart Lane in January, but the Spurs boss probably couldn't have wished for a better return for his £15million.
Since rejoining Spurs in January, 12 months after leaving for Portsmouth, Defoe has scored 18 goals in 28 appearances for the club, with 16 of those coming in 21 Premier League starts. He scored five goals in the 9-1 rout of Wigan in November and only an injury absence of two-and-a-half months not long after his arrival back in North London curtailed his impact.
Defoe also seems capable of scoring goals whether he is partnered with Peter Crouch or Robbie Keane. The goalscoring jewel in Spurs' crown, Defoe's form could be key to the club's hope of gatecrashing the Champions League places.
Goal of the Year - Maynor Figueroa
The best goal of 2009 arrived with just under three weeks to spare. Who got it you may wonder - Rooney, Drogba, Torres, Adebayor, Defoe or Van Persie?
No - Maynor Figueroa. Wigan's Honduras international showed vision, technique and audacity to score a direct free-kick from inside his own half. Stoke's players barely batted an eye lid when Robert Huth brought down Scott Sinclair just inside the visitors' own half. However, Figueroa spotted Thomas Sorenson off his line and quickly lashed the ball towards Stoke's goal with such precision that it left the Dane clutching at thin air as the ball sailed over his outstretched hand into the back of the net. A simply sensational strike that even David Beckham would have been proud of.
Cameron Jerome's rocket for Birmingham against Liverpool at Anfield and Fernando Torres' volley against Blackburn both deserve mentions.
Flop of the Year - Alan Shearer
Whilst most would presume the Flop of the Year is a signing who has crashed and burned - not this year. And yes, it would have been very easy to name somebody like Alberto Aquilani, who has shown very little in his time at Anfield since his £20million switch, but the Italian gets the benefit of the doubt because of injury.
No, instead, our top of the flops is none other than Newcastle legend Shearer. Upon his appointment on 1st April 2009, Tyneside was awash with hope and collective belief that their legendary former striker would guide them to safety. But tragedy was to strike for Shearer and Newcastle as he flopped! During his eight games in charge he managed to win just once, and their relegation to the Championship was confirmed.
Manager of the Year - Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson has to be the pick as the Manager of the Year award for the transformation he has carried out at Craven Cottage. When he took over at the end of 2007, Fulham were heading for relegation, but following a dramatic late rally he guided them to a miraculous escape.
Hodgson refused to rest on his laurels and this year he guided Fulham to their highest ever finish in the Premier League - seventh spot - and in the process a place in Europe. The well-respected manager has gone about his job in West London without fuss and he has helped make Craven Cottage a difficult place to play for the big boys. Hodgson has continued his outstanding work this term, with Fulham through to the last 32 of the Europa League and also sat handily placed in the league, with qualification for a second journey into Europe achievable.
While other managers have done a good job, Hodgson has done a magnificent one in the last 12 months. Owen Coyle must also be applauded for the job he has done in guiding Burnley into the Premier League. The canny Scot is winning admirers up and down the country for the style of football he has employed at Turf Moor, with Coyle refusing to sacrifice his principles of attacking football in Burnley's first campaign back in the top flight.
Coyle has also been forced to work on the smallest budget in the Premier League, but that has not stopped his team of exciting youngsters and experienced performers leaving some of the country's big boys with bloodied noses.
Comedy Moment - Phil Brown singing
Hull City manager Brown's pink jumper worn on Goals on Sunday did enter our minds - in fact, we can't quite rid it from our grey matter - but the singing was narrowly funnier. Rightly, Brown was jubilant when on the last day of the 2008/09 season his side escaped relegation. True, it was not emphatic: Hull did in fact lose their last game of the campaign, going down 1-0 to a Manchester United reserve XI.
It was the Tigers' 11th home reverse of the season, the worst record in the entire Premier League. However, their blushes were spared as, at the same time, an insipid Newcastle United coughed and spluttered and ultimately lay down and rolled over at Aston Villa. Such was Brown's jubilation that the 'shy' fellow addressed the KC Stadium with the assistance of a microphone. Just a few words of thanks for their support, surely? No? You're not done there, Phil?
As the sun shone down on Brown's golden skin and pruned goatee, the Hull manager serenaded the crowd with his soothing vocals. Some joined in, others looked on awkwardly while most let out a cackle of laughter. No matter what your feelings are towards Brown, the corridors and touchlines of the Premier League would be a lot duller (literally) without him.
Celebration - Jimmy Bullard v Manchester City
We all love Jimmy, don't we? Isn't he a cheeky chappy, with his big grin and schoolboy hunger for the game. Jimmy always comes across as a likeable fella in interviews and one can doubt he enjoys to be jovial. With this in mind, it is no surprise that it was he that instigated and pulled off the celebration of 2009.
If you remember, Hull City boss Phil Brown infamously gave his side a public telling off on the Eastlands pitch at half-time after a poor 45 minutes in December 2008. When the two sides met again in November this year, there was much reminiscing of said incident. City led the game but when Hull were awarded a late penalty, up stepped Bullard, who converted.
Cue a wonderful scene that saw Bullard's team-mates surround our hero as he dished out a telling off complete with finger wagging, remindful of Brown's moment. Marvellous.
Fantasy Football Player of the Year - Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba takes this award after a stunning 12 months at the spearhead of Chelsea's attack. The beauty of Fantasy Football is that it deals in facts and Drogba has delivered goals and assists galore, especially since the start of the 2009/10 season.
Few opponents have been able to cope with Drogba's fearsome power and he has taken full advantage of any opportunities that have come his way, netting 13 times in the Premier League this term and setting up numerous others.
The Ivory Coast international was less effective during the first half of the calendar year but enjoyed a revival under Guus Hiddink and carried that form forward when new manager Carlo Ancelotti made the decision to partner him with Nicolas Anelka up front. Honourable mentions must also go to Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Andrey Arshavin, while Richard Dunne could also be considered one of the Fantasy Football players of the year in terms of value for money following his performances for Aston Villa.
Game of the Year - Liverpool 4 Arsenal 4
There have been many games this year that have had us on the edge of our seats for the whole 90 minutes but only one match can scoop the prize. The encounter which best encompasses the above is surely the 4-4 draw between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in April.
With Liverpool needing to win in order to keep the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the table and Arsenal looking to claim that all important final UEFA Champions League place, the game was always unlikely to disappoint.
Andrey Arshavin chose the high-profile stage to well and truly announce himself to English fans following a January move to Arsenal. The Russian had only scored twice for the Gunners before his astonishing four-goal haul on Merseyside. The Reds pegged Arsenal back three times while they led once themselves in a pulsating match with Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun claiming two goals apiece for the hosts.
Arsenal's 4-4 draw with Tottenham last term also deserves a mention, as does Liverpool's similarly high scoring encounter with Chelsea in the second-leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
As for this season, Manchester United's last gasp 4-3 derby win over Manchester City at Old Trafford in September certainly got the pulses racing.
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