Wirtz is the designated football star of the year.
In a glittering ceremony, Florian Wirtz was named Germany's Footballer of the Year for 2025. The young prodigy, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen, secured this honour with an impressive 191 votes in a poll conducted by Kicker magazine involving over 600 journalists.
Wirtz's outstanding performance during the 2024-25 season saw him contribute 31 goal involvements for Bayer Leverkusen, scoring 16 goals and providing 15 assists. His impact was felt not only in the Bundesliga but also on the international stage, where he played with distinction for Germany at Euro 2024.
The transfer of Wirtz to Liverpool in June 2025 for a fee close to €116 million was another highlight of his meteoric rise. He has also been included on the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist[1][3][4].
Meanwhile, Julian Schuster, the coach of SC Freiburg, was named Germany’s Coach of the Year for 2025. His achievement is connected to successfully guiding Freiburg to qualify for the Europa League in his first season as their coach, an acknowledgment of his effective leadership and impact on the team.
Schuster succeeded trainer legend Christian Streich at SC Freiburg and managed to fill the gap left by Streich in a short time. His leadership was instrumental in Freiburg's qualification for the Europa League, a remarkable achievement in his inaugural coaching season.
Florian Wirtz, when asked about the personal honour, expressed that it is an honour for the team. He turned down several offers from top German clubs, including Bayern Munich, to move to the Premier League instead, sealing a deal with Liverpool for a total volume of up to 150 million euros.
On the other hand, Ann-Katrin Berger was named Footballer of the Year for a second time, sharing the title with DFB captain Giulia Gwinn. Berger's strong performances contributed to the DFB women's team winning bronze at the Olympics in 2024, and she was also named the best goalkeeper in the US NWSL. Gwinn, despite an early injury at the European Championship, was named Footballer of the Year despite her injury, and her popularity continues to soar, with over 730,000 followers on Instagram.
[1] Florian Wirtz named Germany's Footballer of the Year
[2] Julian Schuster named Coach of the Year
[3] Wirtz and Schuster receive prestigious awards
[4] Wirtz on the Ballon d'Or shortlist
The prestigious awards continued as Florian Wirtz, the prodigious footballer of Bayer Leverkusen, was also recognized for his exceptional skills in sports-analysis, making it onto the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist following his impressive 191 votes and outstanding performance in the 2024-25 season.
Another notable sport figure, Julian Schuster, coach of SC Freiburg, also demonstrated his analysis prowess in the sports realm, shaping the team's success and earning him the Germany's Coach of the Year award.
