kicker has published the latest edition of its traditional ranking of German soccer. After evaluating the goalkeepers, the focus is now on the center backs. FC Bayern has two players in the top three—but neither made it into the highest category.
Every year, the trade magazine evaluates the best Bundesliga professionals and classifies them into the categories of world-class, international-class, and national-class. After Jonas Urbig took fourth place among the goalkeepers and Manuel Neuer finished in tenth place, it’s now the center backs’ turn.
Dayot Upamecano takes the top spot.
Upamecano tops the ranking
Although the French national team player tops the list, *kicker* chose not to classify him as “world-class.” Instead, Upamecano is listed in the “international class” category.
Among other reasons, the trade magazine cites the somewhat weaker final phase of the season, during which FC Bayern conceded more goals than before. However, the extensive rotation and changes in the team’s dynamics also played a role.
Nevertheless, *kicker* considers Upamecano to be the strongest center back in the Bundesliga over the past few months.
Tah rounds out Bayern’s strong record
Jonathan Tah is another Bayern player to make it onto the podium. The national team player, who immediately became a key performer in his first season with the record champions, ranks third—also in the “International Class” category.
Between the two Bayern defenders, Matthias Ginter of SC Freiburg ranks second. Behind him, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, Jeff Chabot of VfB Stuttgart, and Luka Vuskovic of Hamburger SV round out the rest of the “International Class” rankings.
It is noteworthy that, despite FC Bayern’s dominant season—which included the domestic treble—no Bundesliga center back was ranked by *kicker* in the “World-Class” category. Nevertheless, the ranking underscores the strong defensive work of the Munich team, which has two players—Upamecano and Tah—among the league’s top three center backs.