LIVERPOOL FC captain Steven Gerrard was named England’s Player of the Year on Sunday night at the inaugural FA England Awards.
It is the second time Gerrard has received this accolade and his Liverpool team mate Jordan Henderson also won the Player of the Year award for the nation’s Under-21 team.
The Liverpool pair both received their awards at St George’s Park after fans had voted the Reds midfielders top in their respective categories.
Gerrard finished ahead of runners-up Ashley Cole and Danny Welbeck while Henderson saw off competition from another Liverpool player, Martin Kelly and Manchester United’s latest signing, Wilfred Zaha.
Gerrard led England with distinction as captain at Euro 2012 and under his leadership the Three Lions remain unbeaten in their 2014 World Cup qualifying group.
Despite a new, more disciplined role for club and country, Gerrard has excelled in recent times and deservedly picked up the award again, six years after he first won it back in 2007. He was also recently capped for the 100th time, becoming only the sixth Englishman to reach such a landmark.
Like Gerrard, Henderson has worn the armband for England at Under 21 level and prospered. This award comes at the best moment in his Liverpool career thus far and on the back of two outstanding displays away at Arsenal and Manchester City.
Henderson’s club form has been immense of late and he will be hoping to regain his place in the senior England set up, where he featured at Euro 2012.
[ad_pod id=’DFP-MPU’ align=’right’]
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook
Stevie has been the standout England player for a few years now. At the Euros and World Cup he’s been our best player, while other big name players like Rooney have gone missing. Well deserved and not in doubt.
I’m more surprised by Hendersons win. Being captain and playing the majority of games has helped him,he’s been solid but unspectacular for U21. Kelly’s had his injuries and Zaha is mostly hype at this stage. Nevertheless its another confidence boost for Jordan, but he’s some way off being recalled to the England 1st team and should be carefully seeing the things in Stevies game that makes him England’s best player and learning from them.