Boateng sits out Bayern’s match at Borussia Dortmund on Sunday for the German Super Cup, plus their German Cup first-round match against Carl-Zeiss Jena on August 19 and first Bundesliga game of the season at home to Werder Bremen on August 26.
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Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has been rewarded for a stellar showing during the 2015/16 season by being voted Germany Player of the Year.
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.
Jerome Boateng celebrates after scoring for Germany against Slovakia.
“I can hardly describe what is going through my head”.
He beat off competition from his Bayern team-mates Thomas Mueller, who finished second in the voting, and Robert Lewandowski, who came third.
“Of course I am incredibly proud to have been able to achieve such an award”, said Boateng.
Boateng thus will succeed 2015 victor Kevin de Bruyne, who logged an astonishing season with Wolfsburg before departing for Manchester City, and he joins an elite circle among his teammates: Manuel Neuer has won the award twice, in 2014 with Bayern and in 2011 with Schalke; Arjen Robben won in 2010, and Franck Ribery in 2008.
The 27-year-old becomes the first defender to win the prestigious individual award since Lothar Matthaus in 1999.
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All players in Germany, as well as German players playing overseas, are eligible to be voted for.
