Manuel Neuer Wins German Footballer of the Year

Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper, is the 2014 German Footballer of the Year for the second time in his career.

He beat out Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus for the award by a narrow nine votes. Thomas Müller, Arjen Robben, and Philipp Lahm rounded out the top five as Bayern held six of the top 10 finishers.

"This selection is an honor for me, and I am surprised all the same," said Neuer. "I did not thereby count on it, although I was naturally aware that I showed good accomplishments."

Neuer won three major championships for club and country in 2013/14 – the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal, and the World Cup – as well as winning the Best Goalkeeper Award for in the World Cup.

"This award makes me glad," said Neuer. "We became world champions this year, which gives this selection added meaning."

Bayern players have now won the award three times in the last five years, Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger winning in 2010 and 2013 respectively. Players have won the award with Bayern 19 times as well, more than any other team.

The 28-year-old now becomes the fourth goalkeeper to win the award twice, following in the footsteps of Bayern greats Sepp Maier and Oliver Kahn. He last won the award in 2011 after Schalke 04 's run into their run into the UEFA Champions League Semifinals.

"I don't need to say this every time, that Manu world class is," said Bayern and Germany teammate Philipp Lahm. "I've known that for a long time."

Neuer's national team coach Joachim Löw won the Germany Manager of the Year, at the helm of Germany's first World Cup as a reunified country.  23-year-old Alexandra Popp won the Female German Footballer of the Year, helping VfL Wolfsburg win their Frauen Bundesliga and UEFA Women's Champions League double.

.@Manuel_Neuer ist Deutschlands Fußballer des Jahres! Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Manu! #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/ZC7DQIAsu6

— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) August 10, 2014