Michael Ballack has been named as Germany’s Footballer of the Year, finishing just ahead of the Player of the World Cup, team-mate Oliver Kahn.
Ballack enjoyed an outstanding season for both club and country, helping Bayer Leverkusen to the Champions League final and playing an instrumental role in Germany’s run to the World Cup final.
The 25-year-old midfielder, who joined Bayern Munich in the summer after three seasons at Leverkusen, received 433 votes with his new Bayern colleague and last year’s winner, Kahn, receiving 345 votes.
In third place, came Kaiserslautern striker Miroslav Klose with just 35 votes.
The Coach of the Year award was won by Bayer Leverkusen’s Klaus Toppmoeller after he guided the club to the final of the Champions League and runners-up spot in the Bundesliga.
Toppmoeller polled 396 votes followed by Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Sammer (163) and national team coach Rudi Voeller (161).
