Michael Ballack
Published : Aug 23, 2003 00:00 IST
Michael Ballack was crowned 2003 German Footballer of The Year, winning the accolade for the second year in a row. The 26-year-old, who won the Bundesliga and Cup double with Bayern Munich last season, netted 263 votes out of a possible 867 in a poll conducted by respected German magazine Kicker.
Ballack won the same poll last year after helping Germany to the 2002 World Cup final and former club Bayer Leverkusen to the Champions League final. Former Hannover striker Fredi Bobic, now with Hertha Berlin, came second collecting 167 votes, with Ballack's club team-mate and last season's top-scorer Giovane Elber third with 96 votes.