Prinz is German Player of the Year 2002

For the second year in a row, the award for Germany's Player of the Year goes to Birgit Prinz (Carolina Courage). It was a landslide victory, with Prinz getting 455 votes, while runner-up Steffi Jones collected only 70 votes and 3rd placed Nia Künzer (FFC Frankfurt) got 29.
(4. Conny Pohlers, 5. Renate Lingor & Sandra Smisek)

http://www.kicker.de/content/news/a...son=2002/03&spieltag=1&spielpaarung=&turnier=
http://www.dfb.de/

 

An interview with Birgit Prinz about this win in today's edition of Kicker magazine:

kicker: Are you surprised to be Germany's POTY?
Prinz: Well, I didn't expect to win it a second time.
kicker: Why?
Prinz: Hm, I am here in the States now, far off the screen.
kicker: what does this award mean to you?
Prinz: A lot,because the sports journalists show with it their respect for what I have achieved.
kicker: Steffi Jones took place 2, Nia Künzer place 3. Any comments about your competitors?
Prinz: We have had so much success together with 1.FFC Frankfurt, there really is no competition between us. Both are outstanding good players.
kicker: Since June, you are under contract with Carolina for 2 years. How do you like it there?
Prinz: I have been accepted very nicely and enjoy the relaxed life here. And it is great to be able to focus totally on soccer.
kicker: What is new for you regarding the playing?
Prinz: The league is more balanced and competitive; you always have to give 100% to win. Unfortunately the (creative aspect of) playing comes a little bit too short, the physical play and athleticism are dominant.
kicker: What are your goals for the future?
Prinz: I want to get far in the play-offs. But first of all I want to develop myself farther, as an athlete and as a human being. Awards/titles are less important than that.
kicker: You have been voted POTY twice in a row. Will you get the hattrick next year? ^^
Prinz: You never know how a season goes, so much depends on the team performance as a whole for the individual player. And although I will play in the first half of the Bundesliga for 1.FFC Frankfurt, afterwards I will be back in the US and out of the German perspective/ off the screen.

 

Sorry for being sloppy with the translation, but I really found no better term...

The DFB article says about that question:

"Starting in September, Prinz and Jones are supposed to play again for their former club 1.FFC Frankfurt, for half a year until February 2003. Afterwards both will return to the US."

If I remember correctly, this year Prinz came only after the UEFA Cup final on May 31. So this would definitely be earlier

(And don't worry that she'll be exhausted because of playing all year round without a break...The Bundesliga will start after the winter break in March, so obviously if Birgit really returns in February, she had a few weeks rest and will be fit again to play for Carolina^^)