Lucas scoops 2010-11 award
Lucas Leiva was today crowned the Standard Chartered Liverpool FC Player of the Season for 2010-11.
The Brazilian clinched the award after fans voted for their star man of the campaign on this website.
Lucas tallied an incredible 40 per cent of the 129,774 votes cast.
Dirk Kuyt was named as runner-up having amassed 25 per cent, with Pepe Reina third (10 per cent). Raul Meireles and Luis Suarez completed the top five.
2010-11 proved to be a watershed season for Lucas, who visibly grew in stature and confidence as the campaign progressed and he firmly established himself as one of Liverpool's most consistent performers.
The 24-year-old made a total of 47 appearances and though he mustered just one goal, it proved to be a spectacular one against Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League.
FREE: Click the image below to watch Lucas receive the award
Upon being presented with the award at Melwood, Lucas told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I am very happy and really proud to have been picked by the fans.
"It shows they really appreciate the work I am doing for the team and I will remain the same - always giving 100 per cent in every single game and trying to achieve good things for this club, where I feel really good and want to be a winner.
"I think I am improving every single season, but of course this season has been special as an individual for me because I played with consistency. That's what I was looking for in the previous seasons."
He added: "I am really happy with the way I played and I would like to thank my teammates, without them I wouldn't get this kind of award, the staff for helping me every single day on the pitch to improve my abilities, and the fans because to be picked by them is really, really important for me."
The presentation of the award completes a turnaround in fortunes for Lucas, who by his own admission faced initial difficulties in trying to adapt to English football after arriving from Gremio in 2007.
Nonetheless, he believes he emerged a stronger player and person - something he proved on the pitch in 2010-11.
"I wouldn't have expected this (in my first season)," Lucas acknowledged. "The way I started my career at Liverpool wasn't the easiest, but as I have said before, I wouldn't change anything.
"The difficult times just made me stronger and stronger and I tried to improve all the time. That's what I am doing now.
"I am looking forward to next season and will try to come back better than I finished this season and try to help Liverpool to achieve good things.
"I would like to thank all the fans who voted for me. I am sure next season we will try to make all the fans happy and that's why we are here - to try and give them success."
