By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Best Bundesliga centre-backs of 2023 so far

Here are the best Bundesliga centre-backs of 2023 so far, according to German football magazine Kicker.

Every six months, Kicker publishes a ranking of the best players in the Bundesliga, as well as the best German players abroad, divided into a number of categories.

Today, the German football magazine has released the first part of their summer rankings based on the performances in the second half of the 2022/23 season. Below, you'll find the centre-back rankings.

World Class:
None.

International Class:
1. Matthijs de Ligt, Bayern Munich
2. Jonathan Tah, Bayer Leverkusen
3. Matthias Ginter, Freiburg
4. Benjamin Pavard, Bayern Munich
5. Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund
6. Edmond Tapsoba, Bayer Leverkusen

National Class:
7. Willi Orban, RB Leipzig
8. Julian Chabot, FC Köln
9. Josko Gvardiol, RB Leipzig
10. Hiroki Ito, Stuttgart
11. Niklas Süle, Borussia Dortmund
12. Moritz Jenz, Schalke 04
13. Timo Hübers, FC Köln
14. Micky van de Ven, Wolfsburg
15. Robin Knoche, Union Berlin
16. Piero Hincapie, Bayer Leverkusen
17. Lukas Klostermann, RB Leipzig
18. Nico Schlotterbeck, Borussia Dortmund
19. Philipp Lienhart, Freiburg

Bundesliga news

Post-match reaction BayernKane after converting 25 straight penalties: "Practice is the time to miss."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11Another Kane "Lupenreiner" lifts Bayern over Augsburg
Preview Bundesliga Matchday 11Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Werder Bremen preview: Die Adler looking to continue winning run
Other Holstein KielRapp declares Holtby fit enough to start against Mainz
Other FSV Mainz 05Henriksen likely to stick with Bell despite return of Jenz and Hanche-Olsen
Other Eintracht FrankfurtToppmöller ahead of another Götze milestone match: "I expect him to score again."
Preview Bayer Leverkusen, HeidenheimBayer Leverkusen vs Heidenheim preview: Champions in need of post-international reset
Preview Wolfsburg, Union BerlinWolfsburg vs Union Berlin preview: Die Wölfe look to keep unbeaten run
Other RB LeipzigRose reveals Seiwald could fill in at right-back
Other VfB StuttgartHoeneß prepared to turn to in-form Woltemade against Bochum: "Super exciting!"
Preview Bundesliga Matchday 11Hoffenheim vs. Leipzig preview: The Christian Ilzer era starts now
Preview Bundesliga Matchday 11Stuttgart vs. Bochum preview: Visitors eyeing first victory
Preview Borussia Dortmund, SC FreiburgBorussia Dortmund vs Freiburg preview: BVB look to avoid further slip ups

Table

Kickfieber

Match days

Post-match reaction BayernKane after converting 25 straight penalties: "Practice is the time to miss."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11Another Kane "Lupenreiner" lifts Bayern over Augsburg
Other Holstein KielRapp declares Holtby fit enough to start against Mainz
Other FSV Mainz 05Henriksen likely to stick with Bell despite return of Jenz and Hanche-Olsen
Other Eintracht FrankfurtToppmöller ahead of another Götze milestone match: "I expect him to score again."
Preview Bayer Leverkusen, HeidenheimBayer Leverkusen vs Heidenheim preview: Champions in need of post-international reset
Preview Wolfsburg, Union BerlinWolfsburg vs Union Berlin preview: Die Wölfe look to keep unbeaten run
Other RB LeipzigRose reveals Seiwald could fill in at right-back
Other VfB StuttgartHoeneß prepared to turn to in-form Woltemade against Bochum: "Super exciting!"
Preview Borussia Dortmund, SC FreiburgBorussia Dortmund vs Freiburg preview: BVB look to avoid further slip ups
Bayer 04 LeverkusenAlonso gives Boniface update amid reports star striker could miss rest of 2024
Werder BremenDuo ruled out of Werder's trip to Frankfurt
FC BayernKompany trusts Goretzka to fill the void left by Palhinha's injury
Borussia DortmundSahin delivers positive injury update ahead of Dortmund's game against Freiburg
Bundesliga Matchday 11Thorup declares Vargas ready for minutes against Bayern
Post-match reaction RB LeipzigRose blown away by Nusa: "Wow, just wow!"
Team of the week BundesligaBundesliga Team of the Week: Matchday 10
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 10Wolfsburg take their chances as Heidenheim slump to defeat
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 10Drama galore as Frankfurt survive late Stuttgart fightback to seal victory
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 10Nothing to split Augsburg and Hoffenheim after scoreless stalemate
Post-match reaction VfL BochumHecking off to Westphalian "fun fair" after first Bochum match
Post-match reaction Werder BremenNiemeyer reflects on Burke's late winner: "The stories only football can write."
Post-match reaction VfL BochumNew Bochum coach Hecking hailed after 1-1 draw with Leverkusen
Match report Leipzig & GladbachLeipzig drop points again as Gladbach hold Rose's men to a draw
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAlonso on another disappointing draw: "We have to do better when we take the lead"

German Teams in Europe

Other BayernShakhtar lowers ticket prices in response to threatened boycott
Match report UEFA Conference LeagueFrank Schmidt's tactical tweaks guide Heidenheim past Hearts
Match report UEFA Europa LeagueTohumcu's late strike salvages a point for Hoffenheim
Match report UEFA Europa LeagueMarmoush to the fore as Frankfurt overcome Slavia Praha
Preview UEFA Europa LeagueConfirmed lineups: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Slavia Praha
Post-match reaction FC BayernKompany: "It's important to win like this sometimes"
Post-match reaction FC BayernMusiala reacts to victory over Benfica: "We all knew we had to win"
Match report FC BayernDominant Bayern edge past resilient Benfica
Match report VfB StuttgartLookman strikes again as Atalanta defeat Stuttgart
Other VfB StuttgartConfirmed lineups: Stuttgart vs. Atalanta
FC BayernConfirmed lineups: Bayern Munich vs. Benfica
Post-match reaction Borussia DortmundSahin "expects more" from Malen
TSG HoffenheimMatarazzo says Lyon clash will be a "special game"
Post-match reaction Borussia DortmundDortmund "on the right path" after Sturm Graz win, says Kehl
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAlonso on Liverpool loss: "60 minutes is not enough to win a game at this level"
Post-match reaction RB LeipzigBaumgartner says Leipzig players need to "look in the mirror" after Celtic defeat
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenXhaka reacts to Liverpool defeat: "We conceded goals too easily"
Match report Borussia DortmundMalen magic delivers victory for Dortmund
Match report RB LeipzigKühn bags brace as Celtic add to Leipzig's European worries
Match report Bayer 04 LeverkusenLiverpool sink Leverkusen on Alonso's return to Anfield
RB LeipzigConfirmed lineups: Celtic vs. RB Leipzig
Match report UEFA Champions LeagueConfirmed lineups: Borussia Dortmund vs. Sturm Graz
Bayer 04 LeverkusenConfirmed lineups: Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 LeverkusenTerrier ruled out of Leverkusen's match against Liverpool
VfB StuttgartMittelstädt says Stuttgart are "extremely excited" ahead of Atalanta clash

DFB-Pokal

Other RB LeipzigLeipzig confirm investigation into alleged Nazi salute in stadium
Other DFB PokalDFB-Pokal draw: Kane receives direct crack at Leverkusen, Leipzig host Frankfurt, Kohfeldt heads back to Bremen
Post-match reaction TSG 1899 HoffenheimTSG praise summer signings Chaves and Tabakovic after win: "We've stabilized."
Other Eintracht FrankfurtDFB confirms two-match cup suspension for Theate
Eintracht FrankfurtMarmoush opens up about spectacular mask celebration
Mainz & Bayern"The referee was wearing a Bayern shirt" – Mainz defender slams officiating after DFB-Pokal defeat
Match report DFB-Pokal20:45 Pokal Kickoffs: Musiala minces Mainz, Bielefeld knock out Union, Hoffenheim advance
Match report DfB PokalDucksch breaks Paderborn hearts as Bremen secure last-16 berth
Match report DfB PokalHertha Berlin spring upset as Heidenheim's Pokal dreams end in controversy
Match report DfB PokalFreiburg's first-half surge sees off HSV
Match report DfB PokalMarmoush the joker as 10-man Frankfurt eliminate Gladbach
Mainz & BayernNadiem Amiri: "You definitely have respect for Bayern again"
Post-match reaction FC AugsburgDahmen after successful 2024/25 debut: "I showed the coach he can count on me."
Post-match reaction VfB StuttgartFührich comments on 2024/25 form: "I haven't met my standards."
Post-match reaction RB LeipzigBaumgartner on Leipzig success despite injuries: "All this crap has brought us closer together."
Match report DFB POKALWind's late winner secures Wolfsburg win vs Dortmund
Match report DFB POKALStuttgart see off Kaiserslautern, Köln ease past Kiel and Regensburg survive red card
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenRolfes critical of Leverkusen's performance despite 3-0 win
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAleix Garcia eager for more minutes after scoring in the cup
Preview Eintracht & GladbachEintracht Frankfurt vs. Gladbach preview: Team news and predicted lineups
MainzHenriksen and Mainz not "afraid" of Bayern
Match report DfB PokalAugsburg advance past Schalke, Karlsruhe eliminate Kickers Offenbach
Match report DfB PokalLeipzig see off St.Pauli in six-goal Pokal thriller
Match report DfB PokalLeverkusen make light work of Elversberg
Other Eintracht FrankfurtToppmöller draws comparison to Özil in explaining Chaibi's form dip: "A matter of body language."

German National Team

DFBUEFA Nations League knockout stage and play-off draw: Germany learn opponents
Werder Bremen & DFBZetterer confirms contact with the German Football Association
Rumor DFBReport: DFB in talks with Nagelsmann over new contract
DFBCeltic star reveals dream of playing for Germany at the World Cup in 2026
DFBMusiala and Nagelsmann bemoan Wirtz's "stupid" yellow-card suspension
Post-match reaction DFBNagelsmann after Hungary draw: "I don't want to talk about the game"
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Hungary
Post-match reaction DFB Andrich after Hungary penalty draw: "Where should his hand go?"
Match report DFBGermany U21s conclude undefeated calendar year with draw in France
DFBConfirmed lineups: Hungary vs. Germany
DFBNagelsmann hints at starting spot for "world-class" Sané
DFBNagelsmann confirms plan to rotate heavily against Hungary
Preview DFBHungary vs. Germany preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Post-match reaction DFBNagelsmann and Kleindienst delighted after Bosnia-Herzegovina win
Post-match reaction DFBMusiala reacts to Germany's thumping of Bosnia-Herzegovina: "That was fun!"
DFBGermany player ratings against Bosnia-Herzegovina
Match report DFBUnstoppable Germany roll over Bosnia-Herzegovina to seal top spot
DFB Confirmed lineups: Germany vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
Match report DFBGermany U21s now unbeaten in 12 after victory over Denmark in test fixture
DFBNagelsmann gives update on Wirtz and confirms goalkeeping decision
DFBKleindienst blown away by 'Wusiala': "Sometimes I don't think I'm a fantastic footballer"
DFBStiller ruled out of Germany's games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary
DFBWirtz and Stiller still missing from Germany training
DFBGermany's goalkeeping plans for upcoming matches revealed
Other Eintracht Frankfurt & DFBFrankfurt duo keen to represent Germany

Long reads

Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Hungary
Editor's pick TSG HOFFENHEIMChristian Ilzer: A deep dive into Hoffenheim's likely next coach
Editor's pick FC BAYERNThe secrets behind Vincent Kompany's brilliant start as Bayern Munich's head coach
Analysis/Commentary Werder BremenThe world’s worst restart: Naby Keïta’s disastrous one-year spell at Werder Bremen
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 3
Analysis/Commentary VfL Bochum‘The Unrelegatables’: How Peter Zeidler’s tactics can secure VfL Bochum’s Bundesliga status
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against the Netherlands
Analysis/Commentary SC FreiburgSC Freiburg analysis – Perfect response and jubilant mood on opening day
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga Matchday 1"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 1 (New transfers edition)
Analysis/Commentary FantasyFantasy Bundesliga: A guide to the new rules for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary Bayer 04 LeverkusenHow Bayer Leverkusen could line up for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary FC BayernHow Bayern could line up for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Denmark
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Switzerland
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Hungary
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Scotland
Analysis/Commentary BundesligaShould the Bundesliga relegation/promotion tie be scrapped?
Analysis/Commentary BundesligaBundesliga Team of the Season
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 34
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga Matchday 34"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 34
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 33
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 33
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 32
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 32
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 31

Exclusive interviews

Interview SC Freiburg vs VfB StuttgartFreiburg vs Stuttgart - Reactions from the fan scene
Interview BundesligaEXCLUSIVE: Michael Owen talks Kane, Musiala, Sancho and looks back on famous hat-trick against Germany
Editor's pick Bundesliga & DFBEXCLUSIVE: Dietmar Hamann on the Bundesliga title fight, Der Klassiker and Nagelsmann's start as Germany coach
Editor's pick MainzEXCLUSIVE: Danny da Costa rules out future coaching job
Interview Bayer LeverkusenEXCLUSIVE: Edmond Tapsoba on England links, his role models and Leverkusen's struggles this season
Interview Bundesliga InterviewEXCLUSIVE: From infancy to Eisernen - An Interview with Union Berlin’s rising star Laurenz Dehl
Editor's pick LeverkusenSimon Rolfes interview – part two: Leverkusen boss points out "problem" with German youth development
Editor's pick LeverkusenFernando Carro interview: Bayer Leverkusen CEO says Bundesliga rights are “sold under value”, questions 50+1 rule
Editor's pick Bayer 04 LeverkusenSimon Rolfes interview: Leverkusen boss on global scouting, Frimpong’s “fantastic” rise and more
Editor's pick WolfsburgEXCLUSIVE: Jonas Wind on Wolfsburg's poor start, Niko Kovac, his dream club and more
Editor's pick EXCLUSIVE: Wolfsburg's Jonas Wind gives injury update, shares thoughts on ...
Editor's pick DortmundEXCLUSIVE: Ex-BVB star and agent Niclas Jensen on life on and off the pitch and why Bielefeld's Bello is one to watch
Editor's pick GladbachEXCLUSIVE: Gladbach's Joe Scally on first United States call-up and World Cup chances
Editor's pick GladbachEXCLUSIVE: Gladbach and USMNT defender Joe Scally on his rise to stardom and season so far

Team News

Bundesliga - Dortmund - FreiburgBundesliga - Hoffenheim - RB LeipzigBundesliga - Leverkusen - HeidenheimBundesliga - Stuttgart - BochumBundesliga - Wolfsburg - Union BerlinBundesliga - Frankfurt - Bremen