Jamie Vardy Named 2016 Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year

Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy has been named the 2015/16 Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year.

The FWA's Twitter feed confirmed the result on Monday:

The Foxes star has been central to the team’s push for the Premier League title, which is within touching distance with two games to go. Should Tottenham Hotspur fail to beat Chelsea on Monday night, Leicester will be crowned champions.

According to the FWA website, the 29-year-old picked up 36 per cent of the vote. The top three was a clean sweep for Leicester, with Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante trailing their team-mate in the voting.

Here’s what the man himself had to say after winning the gong, per the same source:

"

It’s a great honour to win such a prestigious award and to have my name added to a list of previous winners that includes some unbelievable players. Thank you to the Football Writers’ Association and to everyone that voted. Thank you also to my team-mates, who are the reason I’ve been able to achieve anything.

It’s been an amazing season for all of us at Leicester, based on the team-work not individuals, which you can see in the voting. Thanks also to the manager, all the staff and the fans for their support.

"

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The FWA chairman Andy Dunn, who writes for the Sunday Mirror, added “the Footballer of the Year award is not just a reflection of his fantastic season, but recognition of a remarkable journey from non-League to the international stage.” Vardy was playing for Fleetwood Town in 2012.

Journalist Paul McCarthy provided more information on the voting:

The Daily Mail's Laurie Whitwell revealed why he ultimately settled on Vardy for his vote:

Vardy is the first Leicester player to win the award and the first Englishman to have been voted as the victor since Scott Parker in 2011.

It’s a gong that will be the crowning moment of what’s been a spectacular season for the striker. Squawka Football broke down his incredible campaign:

While those numbers are impressive enough, the forward has enjoyed some remarkable moments on the way to this accolade.

Earlier in the campaign, he became the first footballer to net for 11 games in a row in the Premier League, a sequence that pushed the Foxes up the table in the process.

Vardy has also been key later on in the campaign, including a stunning brace against Liverpool at the King Power Stadium to keep his side’s title aspirations alive.

BEN STANSALL/Getty Images

Even when it comes to defensive work, as these figures illustrate from WhoScored.com, Vardy has excelled:

The striker’s playing style has epitomised this Leicester side. He’s quick and industrious, and when chances have come his way, Vardy has been ruthless in front of goal.

The improvements he has made under the guidance of manager Claudio Ranieri have been remarkable, and the Italian deserves great credit for that development.

After Mahrez clinched the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award, both of Leicester’s attacking jewels have received the individual recognition they each deserve.

Provided the Premier League title follows, this is a campaign that will have been beyond Vardy's wildest dreams.