Leicester's Jamie Vardy named writers' Player of the Year
LONDON (AP) — Leicester forward Jamie Vardy has won England's Footballer of the Year award on the day his team could clinch an unlikely Premier League title.
The Football Writers' Association said Leicester players swept the top three places and seven in total got votes for the award seen as the most prestigious individual prize in England. Vardy won 36% of journalists' votes "making him a clear winner" ahead of teammates Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante, the writers' organization said Monday.
"It's been an amazing season for all of us at Leicester, based on the teamwork not individuals, which you can see in the voting," Vardy said in a statement.
The 29-year-old forward gets the honor just four years after playing in the fifth-tier division. His 22 Premier League goals include a streak of scoring in 11 consecutive early-season matches, which launched Leicester's historic title challenge after being a 5,000-1 outsider.
Vardy also scored his first goals for England, against Germany and the Netherlands, in March.
GALLERY: Top moments from Leicester's magical run
Leicester City's Top Moments of 2015-16
The first points; Aug. 8, 2015
Immediate response vs. Spurs; Aug. 22, 2015
Comeback vs. Villa; Sept. 13, 2015
Another 2-0 comeback; Sept. 19, 2015
Vardy rescues a point; Oct. 17, 2015
Clean-sheet pizza; Oct. 24, 2015
Vardy's scoring record; Nov. 28, 2015
Sweet revenge for Ranieri; Dec. 14, 2015
Schmeichel saves a point; Dec. 29, 2015
Huth's header beats Spurs; Jan. 13, 2016
Vardy's wonder-volley vs. Liverpool; Feb. 2, 2016
Huth scores two at Man City; Feb. 6, 2016
Ulloa beats Norwich late; Feb. 27, 2016
Officially safe! March 1, 2016
Kante returns, Mahrez scores vs. Watford; March 5, 2016
Okazaki's bicycle kick beats Newcastle; March 14, 2016
Captain Morgan helps Leicester extend lead; April 3, 2016
Leicester clinches Champions League place; April 10, 2016
Ulloa's late equalizing PK vs. West Ham; April 17, 2016
Ulloa scores two in Vardy's absence; April 24, 2016
The Vardy Party; May 2, 2016
Ranieri's Guard of Honor; May 14, 2016
Leicester will win the league with two rounds to spare if second-placed Tottenham fails to win at Chelsea later Monday. Victory for Leicester at home to Everton on Saturday would also secure the title.
Leicester swept the main individual awards, after 17-goal Mahrez won the players' vote last week. Coach Claudio Ranieri is near-certain to win the manager of the year award later this month.