MANCHESTER, England — Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has been voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association (FWA) to complete the double of English soccer's major individual awards. Salah was chosen as Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) after an outstanding season in which he has scored 43 goals in all competitions. The 25-year-old is the first African player to win the FWA award which began in 1948. Salah narrowly beat Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne in a ballot of over 400 FWA members, with the winning margin less than 20 votes. Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane was placed third. What a race it has been between two players who, in a relatively short time, have reached genuine world class. But Mo Salah is the worthiest of winners. He is also the first African to receive the award and we congratulate him on a magnificent season, FWA Chairman Patrick Barclay said. Salah has helped Liverpool, who are third in the Premier League, into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 10 years. The Merseyside club face AS Roma in the second leg in the Italian capital on Wednesday and lead 5-2 from the opening game at Anfield in which Salah scored twice and set up two other goals. Salah will head to the World Cup in Russia in June to play for Egypt who have been drawn with the hosts, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group A. Other players to receive votes from FWA members were Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Christian Eriksen (Tottenham), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Nick Pope (Burnley), David Silva (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) and Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham). The inaugural FWA Women's Footballer of the Year Award was won by Chelsea and England forward Fran Kirby who was also crowned PFA Women's Player of the Year last month. McDermott to sell European Cup medals Liverpool great Terry McDermott is selling his three European Cup winners' medals just days before his former club look set to appear in the Champions League final. The 66-year-old former England midfielder will also put up for sale five league winners medals and his player awards at British auction house Sotheby's on May 22, according to Britain's Sun newspaper. McDermott won both the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' Association awards in 1980. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who won the FWA award on Tuesday, has emulated that feat this season. McDermott, who scored the opener in Liverpool's 1977 European Cup final win over Borussia Moenchengladbach and was pivotal in the 1978 and 1981 wins over Bruges and Real Madrid, said he does not need the money. It is hoped the auction will raise £150,000 ($205,000) — less than the reported weekly salary of £185,000 that Salah would receive in a new deal. I might get some stick for it in Liverpool but I don't really care, he told the Sun. I don't need the money. But I don't need medals to be proud of what I've done. I already know — and that will not go away. — Agencies I've got three kids who are doing very nicely, but I want to give them something before I die. They can pay off the mortgage, added McDermott, who was capped 25 times. Liverpool are hot favourites to reach the Champions League final in Kiev on May 26, taking a 5-2 lead into the second leg of their semi-final against Roma on Wednesday.