Captain Steven Gerrard joined an elite band of England centurions in 2012

Steven Gerrard’s eleven caps during the year brought him up to a career total of 100, making him England’s sixth cap centurion in history.

He didn’t get on the score-sheet but led from the front as England’s captain for ten of those matches.

In May he renewed acquaintance with Roy Hodgson, his former manager at Liverpool, who made him his first England skipper for the Euro 2012 warm-up match in Norway.

He was outstanding in the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, drifting a perfect free-kick into the goalmouth for Joleon Lescott to head England in front in the opener with France in Donetsk.

Gerrard, who won the England Player of the Year award in 2007, made equally vital contributions in England’s other two fixtures in Group D. He controlled a Swedish clearance on the right and instantly placed a diagonal centre for Andy Carroll to head home in a 3-2 victory. He nearly made it four in added time as he forced a stunning save from Isaksson with a left-foot volley.

Wayne Rooney’s headed goal that beat co-hosts Ukraine came after he skipped past Yarmolenko and fired a low centre to the far post. Wayne could hardly miss. England’s captain scored with his kick in the shootout with Italy as the team exited the tournament at the quarter-final stage.

Then, as England made a solid start to their campaign to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he hit the post with a free-kick in Moldova and was unlucky enough to see red after a couple of typically robust challenges against Ukraine at Wembley.

He swung over the corner from which Rooney headed England into the lead in Poland and his free-kick to the far post was perfectly placed for Steven Caulker to slide the ball home for a 2-1 advantage in the Sweden friendly and become the first defender to net on his England debut for more than 40 years.

For Liverpool, the club he has served so well for 15 years, ‘Stevie G’ won the League Cup and was a runner-up in The FA Cup in 2012.

Now 32, he still wants to add to his England caps as he closes in on David Beckham’s record of 115 for an outfield player: “I still feel fresh, looking forward to the next game as much as my debut. Every time you put the England shirt on, it is a proud moment”.

Steven Gerrard's Opta Stats

- Gerrard made more assists (four) and created more chances (19) than any other England player in 2012.
- The Liverpool skipper also made (539) and completed (446) more passes than any other England player this year.
- Gerrard was England’s key creator at Euro 2012, making two assists and creating eight chances, the best record of all Three Lions players.
- The England captain also won 15 tackles at Euro 2012, only Alvaro Arbeloa (17) won more throughout the tournament.
- No outfield player enjoyed more minutes of international football in 2012 than Steven Gerrard (849 – level with Joleon Lescott).

Steven Gerrard along with Ashley Cole, Joe Hart, Glen Johnson and Danny Welbeck are all in the hunt this year and it's up to you which star will claim the 2012 England Player of the Year award at the inaugural FA England Awards in association with Vauxhall at St. George's Park on Sunday 3 February 2013.

Place your vote in the poll below before the closing date of 13 January 2013. You can also vote for the England Men's Under-21s and Women's Senior Players of the Year, too.