Journalists select Vardy as Footballer of the Year

The 29-year-old Vardy, who has scored 22 goals in the English Premier League this season, received 36 percent of the votes from a panel of journalists to beat out colleagues Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante for the honor.

"Thank you also to my teammates, who are the reason I've been able to achieve anything," Vardy said in a statement posted on the Football Writers' Association website on 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. We're all totally focused on getting over the line in the final two weeks of the season and turning a great season into one we'll never forget," added the England international, who set a Premier League record by scoring in 11 straight games earlier this season.

Vardy's award comes a week after Mahrez was named Player of the Year by England's Professional Footballers' Association.

Leicester, who were 5,000-1 long shots to win the league before the season, will win the Premier League championship later on Monday if second-placed Tottenham fail to beat their London rivals Chelsea.

Failing that, a Leicester victory at home to Everton on Saturday would also give the title to the "Foxes." Leicester could have already sealed the deal had they beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, however they only managed a 1-1- draw.

pfd/dv (dpa, Reuters)