Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard insists he has to share his success in winning the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award with manager Rafael Benitez and his teammates.
The 28-year-old beat Manchester United's Ryan Giggs - the recently-crowned PFA Player of the Year - and Wayne Rooney to the accolade.
Gerrard has been on top form this season, scoring 23 goals, 15 of which were in the English Premier League to help Liverpool sustain a title challenge with Manchester United.
However, the England midfielder said much credit had to go to the club's backroom staff and playing squad for helping him perform to the maximum on a regular basis.
"I'm delighted but I'm a little bit surprised," he said.
"When you look at the quality of the players there are in this league, it's a great privilege to win this kind of award.
"It's not just the Manchester United players. When you look at the players the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal and other teams have got, they all have fantastic players throughout their squads now.
"The quality is getting better and better each year so to win this award is a great achievement for myself.
"But I've had fantastic help along the way from everyone at this football club.
"My family and friends come every time I play and everything I achieve in football they are a very big part of that because they are there for me 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"But the biggest thank yous have to go to the manager, the coaching staff and my teammates.
"Individual awards are great but you don't win them without great help from those people."
Gerrard is the first Liverpool player since John Barnes in 1990 - the last time the Reds won the championship - to claim the honor.
He said he was honored to be joining the ranks of some former greats at Anfield.
"It's made even more special for me because I am following in the footsteps of Liverpool players like John Barnes, Steve Nicol and Kenny Dalglish who were heroes of mine," he added.
"Then further back players like Ian Callaghan and Terry McDermott who were heroes to my dad and so many other Liverpool fans."
Benitez paid tribute to Gerrard for the season he has had, and also his attitude.
"I'm really pleased for Steven. It is fantastic for him because he was competing with a lot of good players," Benitez told liverpoolfc.tv.
"For him to be named player of the year is massive credit to him and shows just how much he has achieved.
"He has scored 23 goals for our team already this season and clearly he has had another fantastic season.
"Everyone at the club is delighted that he has been given this award.
"When Steven was told that he was the winner the first thing he said to me was thanks to the staff and thanks to his teammates.
"This is a very positive reaction and shows how much Steven is part of a team."
Chairman of the FWA Steve Bates, chief football writer for The People, said: "Steven's performances this season have been of the highest quality.
"His drive and desire have underpinned Liverpool's Premier League title challenge and ensured a tight finish to the season.
"Steven is clearly in his prime and quite rightly rated one of the finest midfield players of his generation, and the FWA are delighted to honor his contribution to club and country."
Gerrard will receive the trophy at an Football Writers' Association gala dinner in London on May 29.
Gerrard is Reds' James Bond
The pair stood in Liverpool's foyer, one immaculate in a classy hand-man grey suit, the other with a leather jacket.
Steven Gerrard wanted to be photographed with James Bond star Daniel Craig. And there's no prizes for guessing who looked the part in the suit.
Craig is a Liverpool fan and idolizes Gerrard. The duo cut a very special dash together.
Gerrard was jokingly asked which one was James Bond, and his reply was: "I'd love it to be me."
I've got news for you Steven. You are Liverpool's James Bond, the super-hero who carries the hopes and prayers of a generation of Liverpool fans, Craig included.
And now Gerrard has been voted the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year, following in the illustrious footsteps of Stanley Matthews, Bobby Moore, George Best, Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney.
Giants of the game, and now the Huyton-born Liverpool captain can rub shoulders with the true greats.
In a season when Manchester United could win four trophies, the league title again, the European Cup again, the skipper of the team who pushed them closest but still failed is considered our best player.
There will be plenty, from all club persuasions, who would heartily endorse the choice.
Gerrard's triumph is a victory for a working class hero. He is the player everyone would want in their side.
The player who loves and plays for the club he has supported all his life, the player every fan would want their own players to be like.
The player who will sweat blood until Liverpool are league champions again. It probably won't be this season, but everyone knows Gerrard will be back at Manchester United's throats again in August. And he is not going away.
Gerrard is Liverpool. A famous son of a great, sometimes maligned, city. He could have gone to Chelsea, earned plenty and won plenty. Sir Alex Ferguson would have walked the length of the East Lancs Road to sign him.
But to Gerrard, winning just one league title with Liverpool is worth a hatful anywhere else.
We all want our own players to live and breathe our club, just like we all do. To cry when we lose, to show every conceivable emotion and hurt when it all goes wrong.
Steven Gerrard is that man. Gerrard was summed up by young West Ham midfielder Mark Noble at the weekend, after an evening chasing the Liverpool man all over the Boleyn Ground pitch.
Noble can understand what drives Gerrard. The youngster is born and bred West Ham, just like Gerrard is at Liverpool. And the young midfielder said: "He is just the best there is, isn't he? Anywhere in the world."
The Footballer of the Year crown has gone to many who are not fit to wear Gerrard's boots. Players who do not understand the merits of loyalty, passion and respect for the community they were born into.
But Gerrard has carried the flag for Liverpool, the city, since he broke into the team. This season he has driven, led, forced Liverpool to within touching distance of United's crown.
He said recently: "It would mean an awful lot more to be successful at Liverpool than it would at any other club.
"I might have won more medals somewhere else, but if I was to win the league here along with a few more cups, that would mean a lot more than winning seven or eight trophies elsewhere.
"I can share it with my family, with the Liverpool supporters because I have been one of them all my life.
"I could have gone to Chelsea - and their interest turned my head slightly. But I look back now and I am really pleased I decided to stay. I am part of a top team here that can be successful."
He added: "Every day I am captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world, where you are expected to win every single game."
Single-handedly at times, Gerrard has done just that. The man who dragged Liverpool back into the 2005 European Cup final, the man who struck an amazing 35-yard effort in injury time to all but win the FA Cup a year later.
He is paid over £100,000 a week and he knows his worth - but so do Liverpool's support and the fans of every club in the country who envy Liverpool's star attraction.
Gerrard, these days, is a rarity. He is destined to be a one-club man and if he does lift the Premier League trophy, even the Old Trafford hordes cannot deny him his moment.
