Bayern defender Jerome Boateng named Germany Footballer of the Year 
Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has beaten off competition from some of the best attacking players in Europe to be named Germany's Football of the Year for 2015-16. Boateng, 27, came out on top in a poll of German reporters conducted by kicker, beating club teammates Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski into second and third place respectively. The former Manchester City defender picked up 163 votes, with Muller taking 95 and Lewandowski 90. Boateng was part of the Bayern Munich team that did the Double last season, and was in the Germany squad knocked out by hosts France in the Euro 2016 semifinals.
However, an injury in January ruled him out for most of the rest of the season and restricted him to just 19 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern, making his selection a surprise.
"It's hard to believe -- this gap is also surprising for me,'' Boateng told kicker. "I can hardly describe what is going through my head. Of course I am incredibly proud to have been able to achieve such a thing.''
Boateng becomes the first defender since Jurgen Kohler in 1997 to win the vote, won last year by Kevin De Bruyne. Leicester City defender Robert Huth came eighth in the poll with 16 votes.
All players in Germany, as well as German players playing abroad, are eligible to be voted for.
Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was voted players' player of the year in the Bundesliga but failed to make the top three among journalists.
http://www.espnfc.com/bayern-munich/story/2929435/bayern-defender-jerome-boateng-named-germany-footballer-of-the-year
