Bayern win Laureus Team of the Year 2014
German football team Bayern Munich have been named Laureus World Team of the Year 2014.
The Laureus World Sports Awards were announced in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and in a thrilling evening for German sport, Bayern Munich were named winners of the Laureus World Team of the Year Award, after becoming the first football club to complete the treble of UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.
Bayern Munich’s brilliant performance in 2013 led to six of their players being nominated for the FIFA Player of the Year Award: Philipp Lahm, Thomas Mueller, Manuel Neuer, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Bayern Munich legend and World Cup winner Paul Breitner was in Kuala Lumpur to receive the Laureus World Team Award from Johann Cruyff. Breitner said: “I would like to thank Laureus World Sports Academy for honouring us with this outstanding Award.
“It is another great moment in the history of our fantastic club. And it is a great honour and a pleasure for me to be here to take this Award, on behalf of Bayern Munich, back to our city.
“Winning the treble last year was an incredible achievement for our players our coach Jupp Heynckes. Much more, this Award recognizes the hard work of the entire club. Without the hard work of the entire club, and without the undying support of our millions of fans worldwide and our highly valued business partners, this success would not have been possible.”
The Awards were announced in seven categories. The winners are:
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: Sebastian Vettel
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year: Missy Franklin
Laureus World Team of the Year: Bayern Munich
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year: Marc Márquez
Laureus World Comeback of the Year: Rafael Nadal
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Marie Bochet
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Jamie Bestwick
There were two additional Awards: the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award was presented to the Afghanistan Cricket Team and the Laureus Sport for Good Award was presented to Magic Bus, the sports-based community project in India.
