By Ian Palmer
England captain Wayne Rooney was named as the national soccer team’s Player of the Year by fans in a recent poll. Although the year 2014 wasn’t a very good one for the team, with a dismal showing at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the 29-year-old Rooney of Manchester United made the most of it. Rooney played in his 100th career game for his homeland last year and led the England side with eight goals. He also scored his first-ever World Cup goal in a 2-1 loss to Uruguay.
Rooney, who has now been named the England player of the year three times, said the award is very special to him since it was voted on by those who matter the most, the fans. He thanked them by saying, “The fans have stuck by us since the World Cup. We have managed to win every game since and are in the best possible position for qualification for the 2016 European Championships in France.” He also thanked all of his teammates and coaches as well as the team’s backroom staff.
Rooney, who is also the captain of Man United, took over as the England skipper when former captain Steven Gerrard of Liverpool retired from international soccer. He claimed that being given the captain’s armband was his personal highlight of 2014. He remarked, “It’s a huge honour just to play for your country so to be named England captain was a dream come true and something I take great pride in doing. Another highlight has to be walking out with my kids on my 100th cap, that was a special moment.”
By scoring eight international goals in 13 games for England in 2014, Rooney now has 46 goals in 101 appearances for his country. This leaves him just three shy of the all-time high mark of 49 which was set by Manchester United legend Bobby Charlton, who set the record in 106 games. Gary Lineker sits in second place with 48 goals in 80 matches. The online voting was done by members of supporters’ clubs and Rooney was named on 27 per cent of the ballots. Former Man United forward Danny Welbeck, who now plays for fellow Premier League club Arsenal, came in second place with 11 per cent. Teenager Raheem Sterling of Liverpool placed third with seven per cent.
Toni Duggan of Manchester City’s female team was named the England women’s player of the year while Saido Berahino of West Bromwich Albion took home the award for being the country’s Under-21 player of the year. In addition, Dominic Solanke was named the best men’s youth player and Leah Williamson was the top women’s youth player. England will now be aiming to make a splash at the Euro 2016 tournament and according to bet365 are 11/1 to win it.
