Grafite recognised as Germany's finest
Sunday, August 2, 2009
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VfL Wolfsburg striker Grafite has been voted German Footballer of the Year for 2009, the Brazilian becoming only the third player from overseas to receive the award after Ailton and Franck Ribéry.
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VfL Wolfsburg's Brazilian striker Grafite has been voted German Footballer of the Year for 2009, becoming only the third overseas player to win the award.
Prolific campaign
The 30-year-old, who was the leading goalscorer in the Bundesliga last season with 28 goals in 25 appearances, finished ahead of new FC Bayern München signing Mario Gómez and his Wolfsburg strike partner Edin Džeko in a poll of the country's sports writers. The former Le Mans UC 72 forward follows in the footsteps of countryman Ailton (2004) and last year's winner Franck Ribéry in lifting the prestigious award.
Magath trumph
As expected, Felix Magath was named Coach of the Year for guiding Wolfsburg to their maiden Bundesliga title last term. The newly-appointed FC Schalke 04 coach finished ahead of VfB Stuttgart's Markus Babbel and Hertha BSC Berlin's Lucien Favre. FCR 2001 Duisburg striker Inka Grings was voted Women's Footballer of the Year.
