Nati goalkeeper Gregor Kobel once again defends his place at the top of the "Kicker" ranking of Bundesliga goalkeepers.
The German football magazine "Kicker" published its summer ranking on Thursday, which is based on performances in the second half of the 2023/24 season.
The Swiss international goalkeeper in the service of Borussia Dortmund was not ranked in the "world class" category, but as international class. However, the 26-year-old has topped the podium the last three times.
"His reliability is impressive, only once did he receive a mark above 3, when he got a 4.0 in the 1:4 in Leipzig. Kobel is a master of presence at the right moments. Behind a resurgent BVB defense, he rarely had to intervene, but was usually there when he was ultimately needed," wrote the editorial team.
Mats Hummels came out on top among the central defenders. The 35-year-old was rated as "international class". Despite his good performances at Borussia Dortmund this summer, the 2014 world champion was no longer offered a contract and is currently looking for a job. The veteran should be happy to add the award from "Kicker" to his CV.
Kicker will only announce the ranking list for the other positions in the coming days. National team captain Granit Xhaka is likely to be highly rated among the central midfielders.
Kicker ranking of goalkeepers
- World class: None.
- International class:
1. Gregor Kobel, Dortmund
2. Lukas Hradecky, Leverkusen
3. Péter Gulácsi, RB Leipzig
4. Manuel Neuer, Bayern - National class:
5. Oliver Baumann, Hoffenheim
6. Kevin Müller, Heidenheim
7. Michael Zetterer, Werder Bremen
8. Alexander Nübel, Stuttgart
9. Frederik Rönnow, Union Berlin
Kicker ranking central defense
- World class:
None
International class
1. Mats Hummels, Dortmund
2. Jonathan Tah, Leverkusen
3. Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart, new Bayern Munich)
4. Nico Schlotterbeck, Dortmund
5. Waldemar Anton, Stuttgart
6. Edmond Tapsoba, Leverkusen - National class:
7. Marco Friedl, Werder Bremen
8. Eric Dier, Bayern Munich
9. Mathjis de Ligt, Bayern Munich
10. Piero Hincapié, Leverkusen
11. Sepp van der Berg, Mainz (new Liverpool).
12. Jospi Stanisic, Leverkusen
13. Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Mainz
14. Willy Orban, RB Leipzig
15. Patrick Mainka, Heidenheim
16. Anthony Rouault, Stuttgart
17. Maxence Lacroix, Wolfsburg
18. Julian Chabot, Cologne (new Stuttgart)
19. Keven Schlotterbeck, Bochum (new Augsburg)
20. Willian Pacho, Frankfurt
21. Robin Koch, Frankfurt
