Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 9y

Kevin De Bruyne named Bundesliga's best player, Di Matteo worst coach

Kevin De Bruyne has been voted the Bundesliga's outfield Player of the Year, while former Schalke coach Roberto Di Matteo was named most disappointing manager of the season.

The Wolfsburg midfielder collected 52.5 percent of the 183 votes from Bundesliga players in the biannual vote in German football magazine kicker.

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben, who topped the poll in the winter but missed the majority of the run-in with injuries, finished in second place with 23.5 percent.

Bayer Leverkusen's Germany international Karim Bellarabi finished third with 6.6 percent.

Belgium international De Bruyne, who scored 10 goals and set up another 20, was instrumental in Wolfsburg's successful campaign as they finished second in the Bundesliga as well as lifting the DFB Pokal for the first time in their history.

De Bruyne has been linked with a move away from Volkswagen Arena and, while his club have said he will not be sold, the former Chelsea star has repeatedly refused to rule out an exit.

"We will discuss my future, the club and me, once the season is finished," De Bruyne is quoted as telling L'Equipe. "I have not caused any problems. I am going to take my time, but the squad really has to be reinforced because it will be harder next season to play both the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

"If I leave, I have no preference where I go. In my head, it is 95 percent I won't go to Russia or Italy. It is not my style of play, but England, Spain, France or the Bundesliga, yes. They are the best leagues. They are some very good teams. That appeals to me."

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer was named Goalkeeper of the Year with 26.8 percent in the kicker poll.

Borussia Monchengladbach keeper Yann Sommer was second with 16.9 percent, while Freiburg's Roman Burki -- who has been linked with Borussia Dortmund -- received 14.2 percent.

Former Schalke boss Di Matteo won the unpopular vote for "biggest loser among the coaches," as nearly a third of the Bundesliga players ranked him the biggest disappointment in the dugout.

Di Matteo had been appointed in October and, although he enjoyed initial success, their fortunes took a turn for the worse after the winter break as the club failed to qualify for the Champions League after one of the most dismal periods in the club's recent Bundesliga history.

The former Chelsea boss left the club after a 2-0 defeat at Hamburg on the final day. 

Robin Dutt, who was sacked by Werder Bremen in October, finished second, while a trio of former Hamburg coaches -- Peter Knabel, Joe Zinnbauer and Mirko Slomka -- finished third, fourth and fifth.

Jurgen Klopp, who left Dortmund after the DFB Pokal final in late May, also received 6.8 percent of the vote.

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