体坛英语新闻：Fans pick Toni Kroos as Germany's Player of the Year 2014

BERLIN, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Toni Kroos has been named as Germany's Player of the Year 2014, the German Soccer Association (DFB) announced on Friday.

The German international midfielder was elected by the fan club "Nationalmannschaft" as the Player of the Year 2014 after a poll on the DFB's official homepage.

The election of Kroos surprised as he left veteran, and now retired striker Miroslav Klose and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who is still in the race of FIFA's Ballon d'Or, behind.

"The election to the Player of the Year in the World Cup winning year 2014 means a lot to me as fans from all over the world participated," Kroos said. "I am actually not a big fan of individual awards because in our sport we can only win as a team. Therefore, I would like to thank the whole team that worked perfectly 2014."

The year 2014 was for sure a remarkable year for the 25-year-old midfielder as he lifted the German domestic double with Bayern Munich, clinched the World Cup in Brazil with Germany before he moved to Real Marid in summer to pen a six-year deal.

Toni Kroos made since his debut in 2010 overall 57 appearances in the German dress to score nine goals.