England [Images] midfielder Frank Lampard [Images] has been voted Footballer of the Year by English soccer writers after guiding Chelsea to their first championship for 50 years. Lampard won the award ahead of Chelsea captain John Terry, who was voted Player of the Year by the players' union two weeks ago, and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.
Lampard was rewarded for an outstanding year for both club and country, helping Chelsea to the League Cup trophy, the Premier League title and the Champions League semi-finals.
Despite his midfield role behind main strikers Didier Drogba [Images] and Eidur Gudjohnsen, the 26-year-old is Chelsea's top scorer this season with a remarkable 18 goals.
He scored both goals in last weekend's 2-0 win at Bolton Wanderers which wrested the title from 2004 champions Arsenal [Images].
He is only the second England international to win the writers' award over the past 10 years after Teddy Sheringham in 2001. He is the second Chelsea player to win after Italy's [Images] Gianfranco Zola in 1997.
The prize had gone to Arsenal players for the previous three years -- Thierry Henry [Images] winning the last two and France [Images] team mate Robert Pires being chosen in 2002.
The award by the Football Writers' Association also reflects Lampard's services for England since winning a guaranteed starting slot in central midfield alongside Steven Gerrard shortly before Euro 2004.
Lampard scored three goals in England's four games at the finals in Portugal and has a total of seven goals in his last 14 England appearances. He was voted England Player of the Year 2004 by fans.
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