Lampard voted England's top player

February 02, 2006 11:43 IST

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has been voted by the fans as England's Player of the Year for the second successive year.

Lampard, who was also second to Barcelona and Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho in the 2005 European and World Footballer of the Year awards, received 29 percent of the vote in the FA.com poll.

"I think the fans must have had a very hard time choosing because we are lucky enough to have a number of really outstanding individual players," England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson told the FA's official website on Wednesday.

"But you can't argue with their choice. He [Lampard] is one of the most improved players I have seen in the last few years, he gets better and better all the time."

Lampard, 27, scored three goals in nine England appearances last year. He was also an ever-present in Chelsea's Premier League-winning side.

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard was runner-up in the FA poll with 18 percent of the vote, ahead of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney (16 percent).

Michael Owen (12) was fourth, with captain David Beckham (10) fifth.

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