Wayne Rooney Named 2014 Vauxhall England Player of the Year

Wayne Rooney headlined the list of the 2014 Vauxhall English Player of the Year awards, as voted on by the fans and announced on Thursday.

Vauxhall England tweeted the news:

Danny Welbeck took second in the voting, while Raheem Sterling placed third.

Rooney appeared in 13 games for the Three Lions in 2014, leading the country with eight goals. Like the rest of England he had a World Cup to forget, though he did score a goal and add an assist in three appearances, earning a 7.07 average matching rating from WhoScored.com for his efforts. No English player scored higher. 

Rooney commented on the honour, per the Vauxhall Football site:

"

I'm both very happy and proud to be named the England fan's Player of the Year. The fact that this award is chosen by the fans makes it even more special, so I would like to thank all those who voted. I would also like to thank all the England fans for their support throughout what was a mixed year. They have stuck by us since the World Cup, we have managed to win every game since and are in the best possible position for European qualification. 

Receiving an honour such as this from the fans is always something that fills you with personal pride. But it is important to point out that without the support of my team mates, coaching and backroom staff such an award would not be possible. I therefore accept this from the fans on behalf of every single member of the England team.

"

Indeed, the 2016 European Championships will be a huge tournament for Rooney and his teammates after this year's flameout at the World Cup. Rooney remains simultaneously the most popular and scrutinized English player, and expectations will remain high that he can continue to lead England past the disappointments of Brazil.

Rooney was joined by Manchester City striker Toni Duggan, who won the women's Player of the Year award after she scored six goals in 10 games. Meanwhile, West Brom's Saido Berahino won the Under-21s Player of the Year award, just edging out Tottenham's Harry Kane. Finally, Dominic Solanke and Leah Williamson won the men's and women's Youth Player of the Year awards, respectively.