Germany and Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer named World's Best Goalkeeper

Manuel Neuer

Germany international and FC Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been named the World’s Best Goalkeeper for 2013 ahead of Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus) and Petr Cech (Czech Republic/Chelsea FC).

Eleven years after FC Bayern legend Oliver Kahn last won the global award, Neuer comfortably topped the annual poll conducted by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) to succeed Spain and Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas, winner of the vote in the last five years.

Manuel Neuer was a regular in the treble-winning FC Bayern team last season and has subsequently gone on to lift the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup to make it five titles in 2013.

In the 27th running of the IFFHS poll among editorial staff and experts from 70 countries and chosen from all the football continents, the Munich keeper received 211 points, significantly ahead of Buffon on 78 points and Cech on 64. Neuer is the first German to top the vote since Oliver Kahn, a three-time winner in 1999, 2001 and 2002.