Wayne Rooney scoops England Player of the Year award

Thursday 08 Jan 2015

Wayne Rooney and Toni Duggan have been voted by the fans as the Vauxhall England Player of the Year for 2014. 

Manchester United striker Rooney played all 13 games for the Three Lions last year and was top scorer with eight goals.

He was also named as Roy Hodgson’s captain after Steven Gerrard’s international retirement in the summer and earned his 100th England cap, scoring in a 3-1 Euro 2016 qualifying win over Slovenia in November. 

Wayne Rooney receives his 100th cap from Sir Bobby Charlton

Wayne Rooney joined England's century club in 2014

The 29-year-old took 27% of the votes, more than second-placed Danny Welbeck and third-placed Raheem Sterling combined. He also becomes the first player to win the award three times since its launch in 2003, following his successes in 2008 and 2009. 

Rooney will be presented with his award by lead England sponsors Vauxhall ahead of the next European Qualifier against Lithuania on 27 March. 

The England skipper is not the only winner, though, with four other awards being announced. 

During December, we gave members of the England Supporters Club the chance to vote for their Vauxhall England Players of the Year across the Senior Men’s and Women’s teams, and the Under-21s. 

Toni Duggan

Toni Duggan: Vauxhall England Women's Player of the Year

Manchester City striker Toni Duggan scooped the majority of votes in the Women’s Player of the Year poll after a fine 2014 for Mark Sampson’s side. 

The 23-year-old bagged six goals in ten games, including a hat-trick as England team crushed Montenegro 9-0 in a World Cup Qualifier.

Her overall record of 14 goals in 24 internationals is an impressive return and she will be looking forward to performing at the World Cup in Canada later this year.

West Bromwich Albion forward Saido Berahino edged the voting for the Under-21s Player of the Year with 16 per cent, just ahead of in-form Tottenham Hotspur man Harry Kane.

Saido Berahino

Saido Berahino: Vauxhall England U21s Player of the Year

With an enviable strike rate of one goal in every two games for the Under-21s last year, Berahino was often selected as the man to lead the line for Gareth Southgate’s side.

He certainly repaid that faith with three goals that helped the Under-21s qualify for this summer’s UEFA Championship Finals. And it happened for him on a domestic level too, with his eye-catching form at the start of this season earning him a call-up to Hodgson’s senior squad in November. 

England Development Team coaches also voted for their players of 2014 across the men’s and women’s youth squads. 

U17s striker Dominic Solanke was chosen by the coaches as the England Men’s Youth Player of the Year for his performances that helped John Peacock’s side become European Champions. 

Dominic Solanke

Dominic Solanke: Vauxhall England Men's Youth Player of the Year

The Chelsea youngster was joint-top scorer at the UEFA Finals in May – and was named UEFA's Star of 2014 – and he also enjoyed a successful year at club level netting the winner as the Blues lifted The FA Youth Cup.

He made his debut for Jose Mourinho’s first-team during their Champions League victory over Maribor, too.. 

Solanke just pipped Ryan Ledson to the prize. The Everton midfielder played a pivotal role captaining the U17s to their European success. 

The England Women’s Youth Player of the Year award has been won by Arsenal midfielder Leah Williamson

Leah Williamson

Leah Williamson: Vauxhall England Women's Youth Player of the Year

17-year-old Williamson played 14 times for the Three Lions across three different age groups during the last 12 months, scoring twice. She also helped her club to win The FA Women’s Cup in May. 

Each of the five awards will be presented to the players when they meet up with England for their first games of 2015.

Vauxhall England Player of the Year awards 2014
England Player of the Year: Wayne Rooney, Man Utd 
England Women's Player of the Year: Toni Duggan, Man City
England U21s Player of the Year: Saido Berahino, West Brom 
England Men's Youth Player of the Year: Dominic Solanke, Chelsea 
England Women's Youth Player of the Year: Leah Williamson, Arsenal

See some of Saido's best moments from 2014

 


By FA Staff