Kenan Karaman

Player of season for Schalke

Karaman ended a stellar season as the 2. Bundesliga Player of the Season, scoring 14 goals and providing five assists across 32 appearances as Schalke's captain led the club back to the Bundesliga after a three-year absence.

Analysis: Karaman scored the decisive goal in the 1-0 victory over Fortuna Dusseldorf that sealed promotion, and his combination of experience, versatility and leadership both on and off the pitch made him the central figure in Schalke's title-winning campaign. Karaman heads into the Bundesliga as the heartbeat of a Schalke side eager to prove itself at the top level once again, with his captaincy and ability to deliver in big moments giving the Royal Blues a player capable of making an instant impact.