Bayern’s Year of Double Delight
Germany’s 2026 player and coach of the year awards were revealed, spotlighting Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Giulia Gwinn as the top honorees, with Vincent Kompany taking the coach honor after a decisive vote from the Association of German Sports Journalists.
Kane finished the season with 61 goals, a tally that helped Bayern clinch both the Bundesliga and the German Cup, the latter achieved with a dramatic hat‑trick in the final.
Gwinn captured the women’s player award after a decisive vote, edging out Klara Bühl and Jule Brand, while Kompany’s coach award reflected nearly half the ballots cast by the VDS.
The double successes underline Bayern’s continued dominance in both the men’s and women’s sections, a streak that echoes earlier eras when Franz Beckenbauer amassed four player‑of‑the‑year titles and Jürgen Klopp and Felix Magath each claimed three coach awards.
Historical context stretches back to 1996 for the women’s honor, with Birgit Prinz winning eight times, and to 1960 for the men’s award, while the coach’s accolade has been presented since 2002.
Beyond domestic triumphs, Bayern’s men reached the Women’s Champions League semifinals this year, and emerging talents such as Florian Wirtz, Deniz Undav and Oliver Baumann were also recognized in the player voting.