Henry named writers' player

Thursday, 27, Apr 2006 08:36

Thierry Henry has been named the football writers' player of the season ahead of John Terry and Wayne Rooney.

The Arsenal captain has scored 23 times this season and has notched up his usual array of assists and match winning performances.

Since replacing the departed Patrick Vieira as club captain Henry has slowly grown into the role after being criticised earlier in the season for his overall contribution.

The Frenchman becomes the first ever player to claim the award three times in its 59-year history. Frank Lampard interrupted Henry's reign as winner of the award last season.

Sir Stanley Matthews, Gary Lineker, John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish all won the prize twice but none were able to complete the hat-trick.

Second place went to the Chelsea captain Terry while Rooney claimed third and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard made up the top four players.

Paul Hetherington, chairman of the Football Writers Association, said: "Henry is a deserving winner in a season when there have been several outstanding candidates, such as Terry, Rooney and Gerrard.

"Henry's achievement ranks him up there as the greatest player in the 59-year history of the award."

Henry has scored 160 league goals on his way to becoming Arsenal's all time leading goal scorer since his £10.5 million transfer form Juventus in 1999.