Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer of FC Bayern Munich dives during the penalty shootout in the semi-final match against AC Milan at the Audi Cup friendly soccer tournament in Munich July 26, 2011. (Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)
German international goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was elected as German Footballer of the Year by the domestic sports media on Sunday.
In the election launched by the Kicker sports magazine, Neuer who moved from Schalke 04 to Bayern Munich at the end of last season, won 210 votes from the German sports media, twenty votes more than the second finisher Mario Gomez of Bayern, who topped the league scoring list last season.
Turkey international midfielder Nuri Sahin from Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund was third with 142 votes as the top placed international player. The Turk has left for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
