KAHN VOTED GERMAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper took the poll with 295 votes - 192 more than his Bayern team-mate Stefan Effenberg, who finished second with 103.

Bayer Levekusen and Germany defender Jens Novotny came third with 65 votes.

Bayern manager Ottmar Hitzfeld had nothing but praise for his keeper, saying: "He (Kahn) is perfect. It is not by accident that he was named the best goalkeeper in the world last year already.

"He was the outstanding player of the season, not only in the Bundesliga but also in the Champions league."

Kahn helped Bayern to the league and cup double in Germany, as well as the semi-finals of the Champions League last season.

He was one of the few German players that came out of Euro 2000 with some credit from, what was, a disastrous campaign.

Kahn succeeds Lotthar Matthaus as top player and becomes the fifth goalkeeper to receive the award since its introduction in 1960 and also the first keeper since Andreas Kopke in 1993.

Kahn said: "I am very proud of this award, particularly because it is one with tradition.

"Being up there with Franz Beckanbauer and Uwe Seeler is quite impressive."

Kahn joined Bayern from Karlsruhe SC in 1994, and has been the German number one since Kopke retired after World Cup 1998 in France.

Kahn has won 27 caps.