London - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers Association, it was confirmed on Wednesday. Gerrard, 28, will be presented with the award at a gala dinner on May 29.
The award comes after a season in which his side have won nothing, but mounted a challenge for the Premier League title and reached the quarter-finals of the European Champions League.
"I'm delighted but I'm a little bit surprised," said Gerrard. "When you look at the quality of the players there are in this league, it's a great privilege to win this kind of award.
"It's not just the Manchester United players. When you look at the players the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal and other teams have got, they all have fantastic players throughout their squads now.
"The quality is getting better and better each year so to win this award is a great achievement for myself.
"It's made even more special for me because I am following in the footsteps of Liverpool players like John Barnes, Steve Nicol and Kenny Dalglish who were heroes of mine.
Gerrard is the first Liverpool player to lift the award since Barnes in 1990.
Ryan Giggs, who was named players' player of the year, finished second in the voting, with his Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney third.
"Steven's performances this season have been of the highest quality," said FWA chairman Steve Bates, chief football writer for The People newspaper.
"Steven is clearly in his prime and quite rightly rated one of the finest midfield players of his generation, and the FWA are delighted to honour his contribution to club and country."
