Writers go for Grafite

Wolfsburg’s Brazilian striker Grafite has been voted Germany’s footballer of the year by the country’s football writers and sports magazine Kicker.

The Brazilian earned 331 votes cast thanks to his 28 goals in 25 Bundesliga matches last season which contributed to his team winning the league title.

German international Mario Gomez, who transferred this summer to Bayern Munich from Stuttgart, came second with 171 votes, with Wolfsburg’s Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko, voted player of the year by his peers in June, coming third with 169.

Wolfsburg manager Felix Magath earned the coach of the year award for the third time in his coaching career.

He first won in 2003 while in charge of Stuttgart before winning it again two years later after leading Bayern Munich to a league and cup double.

The 55-year-old achieved 778 votes with second-placed Markus Babbel of Stuttgart earning 65, and Hertha Berlin’s Lucien Favre, who came third, achieving a mere 23.