Bundesliga News

Ranking the Bundesliga's best full-backs and defensive midfielders of 2018

By Rune Gjerulff   @runegjerulff

Kicker has ranked the best Bundesliga full-backs and defensive midfielders of the first half of 2018.
Nico Schulz.
Nico Schulz.
Every six months Kicker releases a ranking of the best players in the Bundesliga as well as the best German players abroad, dividing them into four categories: 'World Class', 'International Class', 'In the Wider Circle' and 'Field of Vision'.


Today, the German sports magazine has named and ranked the best full-backs and defensive midfielders in the first half of 2018.

According to Kicker, Hoffenheim's Nico Schulz was the best full-back of the 2017/18 season while Bayer Leverkusen's Charles Aranguiz was the best defensive midfielder. It's also worth noting that no defensive midfielder has been deemed good enough for the two upper categories.

Here are the rankings:


Full-backs:


World Class:
None.

International Class:
1. Nico Schulz, Hoffenheim
2. Joshua Kimmich, Bayern München
3. Lars Bender, Bayer Leverkusen
4. David Alaba, Bayern München
5. Daniel Caligiuri, Schalke 04

In the Wider Circle:
6. Pavel Kaderabek, Hoffenheim
7. Jonas Hector, FC Köln
8. Philipp Max, Augsburg
9. Rafinha, Bayern München
10. Ludwig Augustinsson, Werder Bremen
11. Marvin Plattenhardt, Hertha BSC
12. Timothy Chandler, Eintracht Frankfurt
13. Wendell, Bayer Leverkusen

Field of Vision (ranked alphabetically):
Danny da Costa, Bayer Leverkusen
Nico Elvedi, Borussia Mönchengladbach
Christian Günter, Freiburg
Jetro Willems, Eintracht Frankfurt
Steven Zuber, Hoffenheim


Defensive midfielders:

World Class:
None.

International Class:
None.

In the Wider Circle:
1. Charles Aranguiz, Bayer Leverkusen
2. Javi Martinez, Bayern München
3. Florian Grillitsch, Hoffenheim
4. Naby Keita, RB Leipzig (now Liverpool)
5. Omar Mascarell, Eintracht Frankfurt (now Schalke 04)
6. Julian Baumgartlinger, Bayer Leverkusen
7. Christoph Kramer, Borussia Mönchengladbach
8. Philipp Bargfrede, Werder Bremen
9. Thomas Delaney, Werder Bremen (now Borussia Dortmund)

Field of Vision (ranked alphabetically):
Dennis Aogo, Stuttgart
Jonathan de Guzman, Eintracht Frankfurt
Diego Demme, RB Leipzig
Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Mainz
Nicolas Höfler, Freiburg
Kevin Kampl, RB Leipzig
Robin Koch, Freiburg
Max Meyer, Schalke 04 (now without a club)
Sebastian Rudy, Bayern München
Pirmin Schwegler, Hannover 96
Denis Zakaria, Borussia Mönchengladbach


The other day, Kicker ranked the Bundesliga's best goalkeepers and centre-backs. Check out who they picked here.


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