A big award ceremony for FC Bayern! A few days ahead of the record champions' Bundesliga clash at Hertha BSC and their subsequent onward journey to the FIFA Club World Cup, the winners of the latest poll by the players' union VDV (Vereinigung der Vertragsfußballspieler e. V.), in which all professionals from Germany's four top leagues were eligible to participate, were honoured at Säbener Straße this week.
The Best FIFA Men's Player Robert Lewandowski was awarded the 'Silver Shoe' as best player of the 2019/20 season, treble coach Hansi Flick the 'Silver Bench' as best head coach. Alphonso Davies was also honoured with the 'Silver Arrow', the award for the best newcomer of last season. Joshua Kimmich's third place in the vote for VDV Player of the Season and the inclusion of Manuel Neuer, David Alaba, Davies, Kimmich, and Lewandowski in the Bundesliga Top 11 of the Season rounded off an outstanding result from Bayern's point of view.
Manuel Neuer was named World's Best Goalkeeper by the IFFHS for the fifth time.
In addition to the VDV awards, the record champions' players were also honoured by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) in no less than five categories. After winning five titles, Bayern secured first place in the IFFHS rankings and were consequently honoured as The World's Best Club Team 2020. Captain Manuel Neuer accepted the trophy on behalf of the whole team.
Top striker Robert Lewandowski was delighted to receive two IFFHS awards.
Neuer was also named World's Best Goalkeeper for the fifth time after 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. He's now on a par with record winners Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon, who have both previously picked up the award five times. Lewandowski was delighted to receive two awards: the striker was honoured as the World's Best Top Goal Scorer 2020 and World's Best Player 2020, which was presented for the first time in IFFHS history. Last, but not least, Hansi Flick received the award for World's Best Club Coach 2020.
Ahead of the match at Hertha and the FIFA Club World Cup, we spoke to Thomas Müller:
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