GERMANY INTERNATIONAL EMRE CAN WINS GERMAN FOOTBALL AMBASSADOR PRIZE
Liverpool player and Frankfurt-born Emre Can was one of the winners at the German Football Ambassador awards in Berlin.
The main prize went to Gernot Rohr for promoting Germany through international football. He won the public prize at the 2016 German Football Ambassador awards, following in the footsteps of three World Cup winners.
The 22-year-old has become an integral figure at the Premier League giants under the guidance of German coach Jürgen Klopp. Can, a combative and dynamic midfielder, was developed at Bayern Munich before spending a year at Bayer Leverkusen. He was soon picked up by Liverpool who activated a release clause in his contract. After taking over from Brendan Rodgers in October, former Borussia Dortmund coach Klopp has made German international Can a key player in the side.
Past winners of the award include Sami Khedira in 2013, Andre Schurrle in 2014 and Mesut Ozil last year. The German Ambassador honors players and coaches who promote a positive image of the country with their actions abroad. Emre Can won the prize after 57,000 votes were cast online, with Toni Kroos and Miroslav Klose finishing second and third respectively. The Liverpool player will be presented with a cash donation, which he will use for a social project in the United Kingdom.
Gernot Rohr received the main honor on the night in recognition of more than 40 years of service to international football. The 62-year-old has coached in France, Switzerland, Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso, his most recent job before leaving in December 2015.
He said:
“I live as a German in France, but I feel European.
“This award makes me proud and especially the handing over by my former teammates. I’m very pleased.”Read More
