Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack, was voted German player of the year in German football magazine Kicker’s yearly poll.
Ballack, 25, received 443 votes, Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn came second with 345 votes in the award voted by ther country’s sports writers.
The award completes an impressive year for Ballack in which he helped Germany reach the World Cup final, helped his former club Bayer Leverkusen to a Champions League final slot and scored 17 goals in the Bundesliga.
Ballack said: “I am absolutely delighted, this also is an award for the team of Bayer Leverkusen, where I played last season. Football is a team sport.”
Kaiserslautern striker, Miroslav Klose, came third with 35 votes,
Leverkusen manager, Klaus Toppmoeller won manager of the year with German national coach, Rudi Voller, finishing third with 161 votes just two behind runner up, Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Sammer.
