German internationals Michael Ballack and Birgit Prinz have been elected "German footballers of the year 2001" by a jury of sports journalists. The award as "German coach of the year" was handed to Klaus Toppmöller of Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Since 1960 the sports magazine "kicker" awards the title to the best football player of the year. It was the first time, that Ballack has been elected. The 25-year-old midfielder, who was transferred from Bayer Leverkusen to Bayern München this summer, received 433 of 910 votes and dethroned national team captain Oliver Kahn (Bayern München/345 votes). Striker Miroslav Klose of Kaiserslautern finished third with 35 votes.
The title as "German women's footballer of the year" was awarded to Birgit Prinz, who actually plays in the US Professional League WUSA with the Carolina Courage and won the triple with 1. FFC Frankfurt before. Prinz collected 455 of 634 total votes, former Frankfurt team mates Steffi Jones (70) and Nia Künzer (27) were placed second and third.
Bayer Leverkusen's coach Klaus Toppmöller was elected "German coach of the year" with 396 of 810 votes. The former german international guided his club to second place in the Bundesliga and into the finals of the Champions League and the German Cup. Matthias Sammer of German champion Borussia Dortmund in second place received 163 votes, German National Coach Rudi Völler was named third with two votes less.
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[bild1]German internationals Michael Ballack and Birgit Prinz have been elected "German footballers of the year 2001" by a jury of sports journalists. The award as "German coach of the year" was handed to Klaus Toppmöller of Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Since 1960 the sports magazine "kicker" awards the title to the best football player of the year. It was the first time, that Ballack has been elected. The 25-year-old midfielder, who was transferred from Bayer Leverkusen to Bayern München this summer, received 433 of 910 votes and dethroned national team captain Oliver Kahn (Bayern München/345 votes). Striker Miroslav Klose of Kaiserslautern finished third with 35 votes.
[bild2]The title as "German women's footballer of the year" was awarded to Birgit Prinz, who actually plays in the US Professional League WUSA with the Carolina Courage and won the triple with 1. FFC Frankfurt before. Prinz collected 455 of 634 total votes, former Frankfurt team mates Steffi Jones (70) and Nia Künzer (27) were placed second and third.
Bayer Leverkusen's coach Klaus Toppmöller was elected "German coach of the year" with 396 of 810 votes. The former german international guided his club to second place in the Bundesliga and into the finals of the Champions League and the German Cup. Matthias Sammer of German champion Borussia Dortmund in second place received 163 votes, German National Coach Rudi Völler was named third with two votes less.
