Germany bows to Magath

VfB Stuttgart coach Felix Magath has been voted Coach of the Year by Bundesliga players.

Massive achievement
Magath caused a sensation in Germany this season by leading his young team to second place in the Bundesliga behind FC Bayern München, leaving defending champions BV Borussia Dortmund stranded in third place. By finishing second Magath and his team have already booked their place in the first group stage of next season's UEFA Champions League.

Popular choice
A massive 47.6 per cent of the 261 players involved in the poll gave the 49-year-old former West German international midfield player their vote. Eric Gerets, who avoided relegation with 1. FC Kaiserslautern came second with 18.3 per cent while, despite winning the 'double' in Germany, Bayern's Ottmar Hitzfeld only came third with 11.4 per cent of the vote.

Improved contract
The board at Stuttgart have already recognised Magath's achievements and rewarded him last week when they agreed a new contract that is set to keep the former SV Werder Bremen coach at the club until 2005. Magath was also handed the title of team manager which gives him a bigger say in the club's transfer policy.