The Bundesliga Player of the Season is not any big superstar like Jude Bellingham. The winner is someone very surprising that no one has thought.
In the world of football, Germany’s Bundesliga is known for its fierce competition and talented players. Each season, the players themselves have the opportunity to voice their opinions and cast their votes for various categories, including player of the season, biggest disappointment, and best manager. Kicker magazine conducts this annual vote, and the results never fail to ignite debates and spark discussions among fans and experts alike.
Bundesliga Player of the Season: Surprise Winner Shakes Things Up
The Bundesliga Player of the Season award is one of the most coveted titles in the Bundesliga. While many expected Real Madrid’s new signing, Jude Bellingham, to claim this prestigious accolade after his outstanding performances, the vote took an unexpected turn. Randal Kolo Muani, the talented striker from Eintracht Frankfurt and a target for Manchester United, emerged as the surprise winner.
With an impressive 24.2 percent of the vote, Muani overshadowed Bellingham, who secured the second spot with 17.5 percent. Muani’s achievements include netting 23 goals in 45 games and playing a crucial role in Frankfurt’s journey to the DFB-Pokal final, where they, unfortunately, lost 2-0 to RB Leipzig.
The Disappointment: Former Liverpool Star Suffers a Blow
In every season, there are players who fail to live up to expectations, and this year, Sadio Mane, the former Liverpool star, found himself in the spotlight as the biggest disappointment according to the Bundesliga players. An astonishing 41.7 percent of the players selected Mane for this unwanted title.
Since joining from Anfield for approximately £35 million, Mane struggled to find his form, managing to score only seven Bundesliga goals throughout the season. His disappointing performances were further marred by an incident where he was fined for assaulting his teammate, Leroy Sane, after a match against Manchester City. Mane’s lackluster season and off-field issues contributed to his designation as the biggest flop.
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Bundesliga Player of the Season: Other Notable Rankings and Achievements
While Muani and Mane stole the headlines in their respective categories, several other players garnered attention in the vote. Niclas Fullkrug, the forward from Werder Bremen, secured the third position in the player of the season rankings, showcasing his remarkable skills on the field. Additionally, Sebastien Haller, who triumphed over testicular cancer, delivered a commendable performance for Borussia Dortmund, scoring nine goals and finishing fourth in the vote.
Surprisingly, Bayern Munich players dominated the rankings for the biggest disappointments of the season, despite their team’s success in clinching the title. Alongside Mane, Leroy Sane, who previously played for Manchester City, ranked as the fourth biggest disappointment. Joshua Kimmich, a stalwart of Bayern, and Anthony Modeste, the marksman from Dortmund, also found themselves on this list. It is worth noting that seven out of the nine players selected as the biggest flops represented Bayern or Dortmund, the top two teams in the Bundesliga.
Managers’ Verdict: Mixed Results and Contrasting Fortunes
In addition to the player categories, the vote also shed light on the managerial aspect of the Bundesliga. Julian Nagelsmann, who was unexpectedly sacked by Bayern Munich during a ski vacation, received the unfortunate title of the “biggest loser.” His replacement, Thomas Tuchel, faced a mixed record but managed to guide Bayern to their remarkable tenth successive league title, earning him the third spot in the biggest loser ranking. Daniel Farke, the former Borussia Monchengladbach manager, concluded the list in fifth place.
On a positive note, Urs Fischer, the Union Berlin manager, was hailed as the “biggest winner” for leading the club to their first-ever Champions League qualification. Xavi Alonso, the former Liverpool player, also achieved recognition for his managerial prowess, securing the second position after guiding Bayer Leverkusen to a respectable sixth-place finish.
Recognizing Excellence on a Global Scale
Expanding the horizon beyond the Bundesliga, the players were asked to select their top performers in world football. Thibaut Courtois, the talented goalkeeper from Real Madrid, claimed the title of the best goalkeeper with an impressive 45.6 percent of the vote. He outshone other notable names such as Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ederson, while Liverpool custodian Alisson did not feature in the top five.
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When it came to attackers, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Kevin de Bruyne were hailed as the best in their category. Haaland, in particular, captured over half of the votes, solidifying his meteoric rise in the football world. Notably, Lionel Messi, often regarded as one of the greatest players, ranked sixth, falling behind Vinicius Junior and Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.
The Bundesliga’s Struggle to Maintain Prominence
Despite the Bundesliga’s rich history and the intense competition it offers, the players’ votes revealed a concerning trend. Over 57 percent of the participants believed that the Bundesliga is “losing touch” with Europe’s top leagues. This sentiment serves as an indication that confidence among the league’s players is waning. The Bundesliga’s slip to fourth place in UEFA’s league coefficient rankings, after previously holding the top spot in 2017, further highlights the challenges faced by German football in the international arena.
In conclusion, the annual player vote conducted by Kicker magazine provides valuable insight into the Bundesliga season and the opinions of those who make the league what it is—the players. While Randal Kolo Muani and Sadio Mane claimed the titles of Bundesliga Player of the Season and biggest disappointment, respectively, the vote also recognized other exceptional performers and shed light on the managerial dynamics within the league. As the Bundesliga seeks to maintain its prominence in the football world, the players’ perspectives provide valuable feedback for the future.
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