Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa has been named player of the first half of the season by German magazine Kicker.. The 25-year-old Brazilian, a summer signing from Shakhtar Donetsk, received just over 30 percent of the vote in the popular football magazine, beating Borussia Dortmund’s Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (23 percent) into second with his Bayern teammates Thomas Mueller (14.8) and Robert Lewandowski (10.3) next. Costa has scored four goals and created 14 others in his 20 games since joining Bayern. The Munich giants’ Manuel Neuer was named best goalkeeper while Andre Schubert took the coach’s award after taking Borussia Moenchengladbach from rock bottom after five consecutive defeats before he joined up to fourth. By AFP |