Best keeper in the Bundesliga? Major honour for BVB’s Kobel | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund’s goalkeeper Gregor Kobel is once again at the top of the experts’ rankings. Kicker has named the Swiss player the best keeper of the Bundesliga first half of the season.

Gregor Kobel has once again played his way to the top among Bundesliga goalkeepers. The specialist magazine kicker named the Swiss national keeper the best goalkeeper in the league after the first half of the season. This once again confirms his status as one of the most consistent performers in his position.

In the traditional ranking published by kicker twice per season, no goalkeeper made it into the highest category, “world class.” However, a trio impressed at an international level: this group is led by Kobel, followed by Peter Gulácsi (RB Leipzig) and Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim). It’s not the first time at the top for Kobel—he already led the internal ranking of Bundesliga keepers in 2022 and 2024.

The key factor in his current top ranking is above all his development in a long-debated area: playing with the ball at his feet. The editorial team highlights that Kobel has made noticeable progress here. Changes in Dortmund’s coaching staff have also had a positive impact on his performances.

Kehl praises BVB goalkeeper Kobel: Hard work pays off

BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl sees the award as a logical result of hard work: “Greg has shown very stable performances. He has worked hard and meticulously and is always thinking about his goalkeeping. This is now the confirmation of his performance.”

Meanwhile, the classification of Manuel Neuer is causing discussion. The long-time Bayern and national team keeper is now only assigned to the “national class” category in the ranking, putting him clearly behind Kobel. Although the soon-to-be 40-year-old still flashes his exceptional talent, overall, the experts currently see several Bundesliga goalkeepers ahead of him. Even a return to the national team’s goal is now viewed critically by some experts.

In summary, one thing stands out above all: with strong performances and visible development, Gregor Kobel has once again established himself as the benchmark in Germany’s top flight—and now officially holds the title of best goalkeeper of the Bundesliga first half of the season.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.