LONDON COLNEY, England: England manager Fabio Capello and defender Rio Ferdinand praised Wayne Rooney on Tuesday after the 23-year-old striker was named England's 2008 Player of the Year in a fans' poll.

Rooney is enjoying a rich spell of form with seven goals in his last four internationals.

"Rooney is one of the best players in the world," Capello told reporters at England's training base north of London.