Germans abroad

Followers of the Bundesliga will know that when it came to the end of season awards, Borussia Dortmund's players dominated after a championship-winning season played with flair and panache.

There were other winners too throughout the league, with some deserved high marks for individuals on teams throughout the top flight. And there were, of course, plenty who could have done a lot better…and who quite rightly will hide their faces in shame until pre-season training begins.

But what of those German players who spent the season churning up the turf in foreign fields? Granted, the strength of the Bundesliga means that there aren't that many German stars of note playing in Europe's other leagues, but those who are have done pretty well on the whole - except perhaps Thomas Hitzlsperger…but more on him later.

Star student

Most surprisingly, the player who comes top of the class of the foreign exchange students this season is one which is more accustomed to sitting in the corner with a dunce's hat on.

Ordinarily a pupil more likely to get detention or even expelled, the Berlin-bred Ghanaian international Kevin Prince Boateng ended this school year with a Serie A championship winner’s medal after helping AC Milan to their first title in seven years. Seen by many as a problem child in the past for his bad attitude, Boateng finally got his act together when given the chance to play for the seven-time Champions League winners at the start of this season.

Not only that, but the former Germany Under-21 player became an integral part of the team, coming up with vital goals and assists from central midfield, with his athleticism and guile earning him rave reviews across Italy and turning his loan deal from Genoa into a permanent move to the Rossoneri.

He even stole the show during the club's title celebrations when, as his colleagues continued to party in their sweaty match attire, KPB slipped into full Michael Jackson regalia - including the famous single sparkling glove and fedora hat - to strut his stuff to Billy Jean in front of a packed San Siro. He’d pledged he’d do it if Milan won the league, and many expected a few brief steps for the cameras. Boateng danced the whole song through, and pulled off a credible moonwalk.

Winning the Scudetto with one of world soccer's most prestigious clubs will go a long way toward erasing the bad memories Boateng has of patchy performances and bratty behavior in the shirts of Hertha Berlin, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Dortmund and Portsmouth.

It will, however, probably not be enough to generate any warm feelings for him from German soccer fans who still haven't forgiven him for abandoning the national side to represent his father's country of Ghana, or for breaking Michael Ballack's ankle a few weeks before the 2010 World Cup. Still, with a nice contract and a new status as a core member of AC Milan's new generation, it's unlikely KPB will be bothered much.

(It should be mentioned that Kazakhstan-born German starlet Alexander Merkel also featured for Milan this season, although his six appearances were not enough to win him a championship medal this time round. His future looks bright though, so don't rule out good grades and silverware in time.)

Almost there

Good performances and some silverware of their own was enough to give German internationals Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira solid B grades for their season's work in La Liga with Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid.

Despite Real losing out in the title race to reigning champions Barcelona, both Özil and Khedira played in the Copa del Rey triumph over Madrid's Catalan rivals, helping to earn Los Merengues their first domestic cup since 1993.

Özil only missed two La Liga games all season and quickly became not only an important part of the team, scoring six goals in total, but also a firm favorite of the fans who expressed in a poll that they valued him higher than Brazilian superstar Kaka. He also earned high praise from his coach and the Spanish press for a debut season which was punctuated with some stellar performances.

Khedira attracted less attention, played fewer games and failed to score, but as a defensive midfielder in a formation constructed by a coach who likes to stifle opponents, he was very efficient in the execution of his duties. However, Khedira’s limited ball skills were exposed at times and while he continues to enjoy Mourinho's faith, new additions to the Madrid midfield such as Nuri Sahin could add extra pressure on a player who has yet to nail down an ironclad place in the starting XI.

Behind the curve

In England, Kevin Prince's half-brother Jerome Boateng had a rough year. He was among Manchester City’s most ballyhooed pre-season purchases, but spent most of the year battling injury and indifferent form. Jerome didn't feature for City after February, managing just 14 starts for the Premiership club with two more appearances as a substitute.

Most disappointingly, he missed out on the match day squad for Manchester City's FA Cup win over Stoke City - the club’s first bit of silverware in 35 years. Jerome ends the school year with a C-minus.

Despite interest from Bayern Munich, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has ruled out a return to the Bundesliga for Boateng, who made his name there with Hamburg.

Finally, a D grade goes to poor old Thomas Hitzlsperger, not so much as a rating for his individual displays - which were fine, to be honest - but for playing a part in the worst team in the Premiership this season.

The former Stuttgart man, known as Der Hammer for his ability to batter a football from distance, returned to England from Lazio in Italy, joining West Ham in the hope that the cult status he enjoyed in the midlands with Aston Villa a decade ago could be replicated in East London.

It took seven months before he was ready to play, joining as he did with a serious thigh injury, and despite endearing himself to the fans on his eventual introduction to the team, Der Hammer couldn't save The Hammers from relegation. Rumors now abound that Hitzlsperger could be sold to former club Villa in a cut-price deal as West Ham look to trim their wage bill and survive in the second tier.

Author: Nick Amies
Editor: Matt Hermann