New Delhi, Aug 23 — Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has been named as the Men's Player of the Year in Germany, while Bavarian manager Vincent Kompany won the coach award. While Kane took the men's honour, Giulia Gwinn was named the Women's Player of the Year in a sweep for the club.
Club President Herbert Hainer heaped praise on the winners. "A Bayern double – never before have the men's and women’s Player of the Year awards gone to the same club. Congratulations to Harry and Giulia, as well as our coach Vincent. When men’s and women’s football makes history together, then that’s Bayern, making a mark. We’re proud of this result," Hainer said in a media release from Bayern Munich.
Kane was in stellar form last season for Bayern as he scored 61 goals in all competitions. He was the cornerstone of Bayern winning a domestic double. The club defended its Bundesliga title and also won the German Cup, with Kane scoring a hat-trick in the latter's final against Stuttgart.
This saw the England captain amass 272 votes in the 659-member yearly poll of the honour organised by Kicker magazine. Teammate Michael Olise was second with 203 votes. Kompany got almost half of the votes for the best coach of the year as he beat previous winner Julian Schuster of Freiburg.
Kane recently won the Golden Shoe award for the second time after his stellar performance in the Bundesliga last season when he netted 36 goals. Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen highlighted that Kane remains one of the biggest winners currently.
"We saw already with the presentation of the Golden Shoe as Europe’s top scorer that there’s no getting away from Harry with the big individual awards this year, because he’s shone on every stage.
"Big congratulations to Harry now on being voted Germany’s Player of the Year. He’s the first Englishman ever and the first Bayern player for five years – another milestone in an outstanding career. Congratulations as well to Vincent and Giulia. Kane, Kompany, Gwinn – three awards, one Bayern DNA. This historic treble is also complemented excellently by our further top-ten finishes. We’re very proud of our teams," Dreesen said.
Bayern have now won the German Supercup yet again after beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the early hours of Sunday. Although Kane did not score a goal there, he played his part in the win. The Bavarians will open their Bundesliga campaign on the coming Saturday against VfB Stuttgart.