Introduction to the German Football Awards
Striker Florian Wirtz was elected German men’s footballer of the year for 2024-25 after another outstanding season in Bayer Leverkusen. In the meantime, international teammates Giulia Gwinn and Ann-Katrin Berger will share the Women’s Award, with both receiving 145 votes from the members of the Association of German Sports Journalists (VDS).
Outstanding Performance by Wirtz
Wirtz, who moved to Liverpool in the summer, received 191 votes after having scored 16 goals last season and contributed 15 assists in all competitions for Leverkusen. "In football, the personal recognition of individual players is always and above all an award for the collective," said Wirtz. "I am aware that I still have a lot of work in front of me to meet all the expectations associated with an award like the footballer of the year."
Wirtz Leads the Pack
The 22-year-old won 191 votes, surpassing Michael Olise of Bayern Munich (81), Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart (71), and Thomas Müller (70), who came to the Vancouver Whitecaps last week after an illustrious career in Bavaria. "I can’t imagine a more worthy successor than you," said former winner Toni Kroos about Wirtz.
Berger’s Impressive Euro Performance
In the meantime, Gwinn and Berger could not be separated, although the couple was lucky in the summer during the European Championship of women in Switzerland. The German captain Gwinn suffered an injury at the end of the team during the team’s opening game against Poland. Despite the setback, Germany reached the semi-finals of the euro when goalkeeper Berger scored the leading role, which had called numerous outstanding parades throughout the tournament team.
Shared Women’s Award
The shooting stop also led the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side to the semi-finals when Gotham became third overall. The votes were submitted by 633 members of the VDS for all awards. Giulia Gwinn and Ann-Katrin Berger’s shared award is a testament to their outstanding performance and dedication to the sport. Freiburg coach Julian Schuster also agreed in the Europa League in his first responsible year, showcasing the talent and expertise of German football coaches.
