Bayern Munich

Ribery Named As Germany's Player Of The Year

Franck Ribery's sensational debut season for Bayern Munich last year has earned him the distinction of Footballer of the Year in Germany.

Aug 6, 2008 5:40:59 PM

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The country's sports writers gave the prodigious French playmaker the nod over Michael Ballack and Luca Toni, thus making him only the second foreign player to net the award since Ailton in 2004.

"We are happy and proud that Ribery was named as Player of the Year," trumpted Bayern director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. "That so many Bayern players made the top ten is a great honour for the club and testament to the popularity and quallity of our team."

Rummenigge was referring ot the fact that, along with Toni, Philipp Lahm, Oliver Kahn, Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger also made it into the top ten.

What is more, Ottmar Hitzfeld, now in charge of Switzerland, was designated as Coach of the Year for leading Bayern back to the pinnacle of German football.

Special mention should go out to Germany and 1. FFC Frankfurt striker Birgit Prinz, who was named as the Female Footballer of the Year for an amazing eighth year in succession.

Derek Wanner, Goal.com