England's golden year

Beckham (left) and Owen (right) with cause to celebrate

By BBC Sport Online's Nada Grkinic

An amazing year for English football was capped when Michael Owen and David Beckham were honoured at the traditional end of year awards on Monday.

Owen became only the fourth Englishman to win the title of European Footballer of the Year award since its inception in 1956.

And Beckham finished runner-up to Luis Figo of Portugal as Fifa's World Player of the Year.

It would detract from both men's achievements for club and country to enter into the debate of whether one or the other was more deserving of their titles.

The simple fact is that Owen and Beckham have rightly been recognised for bringing English football out of its prolonged wilderness - not to mention confirmation of their world-class status.

It won't be long before we win more awards like this

Sir Bobby Charlton

No two players have had a greater impact on Sven-Goran Eriksson's England side in the past twelve months.

At the beginning of the year the nation seemed set to suffer the ignominy of not qualifying for the World Cup - again.

But the Liverpool striker and the Manchester United midfielder masterminded England's passage to Korea and Japan.

The architects of England's automatic qualification, each produced inspirational performances that have provided us with the sporting highlights of the year.

Few will forget Owen's majestic hat-trick against Germany in September, or David Beckham's last-gasp free-kick in the final group game with Greece that sent England fans into a frenzy.

Their accolades reflect the dramatic turn-around in England's fortunes - and some might say about time.

England have waited - for too long - to be able to boast about genuine world-class talent.

Owen performed heroics against Germany

Now they have two of the continent's finest.

Owen's surprise at winning the Ballon D'Or owed as much to the fact that he had fended off competition from the likes of Francesco Totti, Raul and Oliver Kahn as to his name being added to a distinguished list of previous recipients.

Alfredo Di Stefano, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten - and now Michael Owen.

"I couldn't believe it when I first heard the news," said Owen. "I knew I was one of the five players in the running, but it still seemed unbelievable to me."

New dawn

The success of Owen and Beckham is very believable because they have not only impressed for England, but have done so at club level too.

Faced by world-class players in the Premiership and in European club competition on a weekly basis, both players have excelled.

For Liverpool, Owen's goals inspired a cup treble, most notably his late double that turned seeming defeat into victory against Arsenal in the FA Cup Final.

This season, the striker's predatory instincts and growing repertoire of finishes have propelled Gerard Houllier's side to the top of the Premiership.

Beckham, despite his recent appearances on the substitutes' bench for United, has been a mainstay of the Old Trafford club's triumphs.

Beckham: Architect of England's success

A new and refreshing era is gracing English football.

Owen and Beckham are the perfect ambassadors to represent their country's cause - consummate professionals and born winners.

And when a legend of England's last memorable golden period - in the late 1960s - believes that these two accolades are just the start of things to come, few would beg to differ.

Sir Bobby Charlton, a former European Footballer of the Year winner, said: "We have been in the international wilderness.

"But it's about winners. If you are that type of person who wants to win you get noticed and it won't be long before we win more awards like this."

England fans can rejoice - and hope that Messrs Beckham and Owen stay fit for the game's biggest prize next year.