FC Bayern München goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, has been named 2014 European Athlete of the Year and 2014 World Athlete of the Year.
“I’m very grateful for being chosen for these awards, but I couldn’t have done it without my team-mates,” said Neuer, who beat tennis stars, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, to the European accolade.
Indeed, the 2014 world champion is only the third footballer after Michel Platini (1984) and Lothar Matthäus (1990) to win the continental prize since its inception in 1983.
The Germany international custodian beat Real Madrid CF star and 2014 Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo to the World Athlete award.
“Those who saw him play in the World Cup were left with a lasting impression,” said UEPS President, Yannis Daras, who attended the presentation on Wednesday. “His nomination for this award comes as a result of his incredible performances, the way he conducts himself on the pitch and how he interacts with the media.”
Neuer thanked those who selected him for the honours, but also his teammates at domestic and international level: “Without those guys I wouldn’t be able to win them.” The 29-year-old is the third footballer to win the UEPS award, which was inaugurated in 1983. Michel Platini (1984) and Lothar Matthäus (1990) are the previous victors.
In terms of the European award, he finished ahead of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. The global award saw him beat Federer and Cristiano Ronaldo.
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