Date:08/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/08/stories/2008080858122100.htm

Sport - Football

Ribery is German Player of the Year

BERLIN: Franck Ribery was named Germany’s football Player of the Year on Wednesday. The Bayern Munich winger won with 224 votes from German journalists in a contest organised by Kicker magazine.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack was second with 115 of 766 votes cast.

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said on the team’s website that Ribery’s victory was “absolutely earned.”

“We are happy and proud that Franck Ribery, with an overwhelming majority, was selected as the Player of the Year for 2008,” Rummenigge said. — AP