BERLIN (GERMANY), 31 July (dpa/EP) –
Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku was awarded this Sunday with the Footballer of the Year award in Germany, while Bayern Munich soccer player Lea Schüller received the most votes in the women’s category and Freiburg coach Christian Streich was chosen best coach.
Like every year, Kicker magazine announced the Footballer of the Year in Germany. On this occasion, the French Nkunku, 24, obtained 134 votes, ahead of Robert Lewandowski (128), who won the award the previous two seasons. Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was third.
“I feel very honored and grateful to be able to accept such an important award,” said the French striker, who scored 32 goals and 20 assists in 51 official games for Leipzig last season. “First of all, I have to thank my team, the coaching staff and all the staff,” he added.
For her part, the top scorer in the Bundesliga last year, Lea Schüller, received the same award in the women’s category. “This is a total surprise, outstanding and a great honour,” she noted as she won the award with 141 votes, with Wolfsburg forward Alexandra Popp (115) and Wolfsburg goalkeeper Almuth Schult completing the podium.
In addition, coach Christian Streich, who led Freiburg to the Cup final and put the team in the Europa League, was the most voted as best coach, thanks to his 276 votes, which allowed him to beat Oliver Glasner (Eintracht) and Steffen Baumgart (Cologne), second and third, respectively. “It is not fair that only I am chosen. I accept the award on behalf of everyone at the club,” Streich concluded upon receiving the award.