Ballack is a cut above
Michael Ballack has been voted 2005 Player of the Year in Germany.
Germany skipper Michael Ballack was voted 2005 Player of the Year in Germany in a survey carried out among sport journalists by Kicker.
The 28-year-old had already been elected in 2002 and 2003, and regained the highly-regarded prize from last year's winner Ailton after playing a vital role in Bayern Munich's domestic double.
"It's harder to get elected again, especially after a one-year break and therefore I hold this vote in even higher regard," Ballack told Kicker.
The midfielder recorded 516 votes - more than five times as much as second-placed Germany team-mate and Cologne striker Lukas Podolski (103) and Hertha Berlin's Brazilian playmaker Marcelinho (99).
"Michael Ballack is a true leader and we have faith that he will become the leading figure in the World Cup," Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann said of his skipper.
Bayern Munich's Felix Magath was crowned Coach of the Year, beating Jurgen Klopp who kept Bundesliga new boys Mainz in the top flight.
The vote for best female footballer went to Birgit Prinz. The striker was in superb form when Germany won the European Championship in England this summer.
