Xabi Alonso is kicker Personality of the Year 2024

The reasons given for the vote given by kicker include: "Our decision-making has not and will not only include purely sporting results and standards. We also look for a personality who has worked exceptionally and as a role model in German football through their activity and attitude. In addition, a responsible and credible manner counts even with the biggest success. Xabi Alonso has again and again demonstrated that with his team but also on his own as an individual. Winning the double of the league title and the DFB Pokal plus reaching the Europa League final stand out. With his successful work as head coach at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso has performed great things for the whole of German football. For the editorial board at kicker he is without doubt the Personality of the Year 2024.”

Alonso lead Bayer 04 to the first Bundesliga title in the club's history and for the first time the Werkself remained unbeaten throughout a Bundesliga campaign. The achievements in the league were crowned by lifting the DFB Pokal – a first Leverkusen double. In addition, the Werkself remained unbeaten on the European stage up to the final in the UEFA Europa League. The Supercup was won at the start of the current season.

Ballack, Völler and Co. as predecessors

Last year the award went to Heidenheim's head coach Frank Schmidt who has coached the Conference League participants since 2007. Other Leverkusen winners in addition to Alonso are Michael Ballack (2002) and Rudi Völler (2000). The first vote in 1990 went to Franz Beckenbauer and since then famous female and male players and coaches have received the award for outstanding performances in the individual calendar year.