Lampard is only the second England international to win the award

London: England midfielder Frank Lampard 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.

Despite his midfield role behind main strikers Didier Drogba 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 that wrested the title from 2004 champions Arsenal.

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.

Lampard is only the second England international to win the writers’ award over the past ten years after Teddy Sheringham in 2001. He is the second Chelsea player to win after Italy’s Gianfranco Zola in 1997.

The prize had gone to Arsenal players for the previous three years ' Thierry Henry winning the last two and France teammate Robert Pires being chosen in 2002.