It wasn’t exactly a procession, but then there was little doubt that the 2022 Bundesliga title was on its way back to Munich once Julian Nagelsmann’s champions pulled away in the new year to win a 10th successive title.
And the Bavarians had a rich pool of talent in their squad which eventually proved to be simply too good for the rest. But there were some players who shone brightly in the also-rans and some clubs which over-achieved.
So, friends, lets take a look at some of the players who ripped it up in the German top-flight over the past 10 months and yes there are some of Bayern’s finest in my list.
Best Goalie: Manuel Neuer – Bayern Munich
I can’t really start with anyone other than the champions’ imperious stopper Manuel Neuer, the mainstay of the Bundesliga’s best team and the national side over the past decade and more. Now at 36 years of age, the Bayern custodian arrived at the club from Schalke 04 in 2011 and he has been a played a big part in the club’s phenomenal achievements ever since.
This season, Bayern have conceded the joint fewest goals at 37 alongside RB Leipzig and Neuer has kept 14 clean sheets. He’s gone through the entire campaign without earning a card and his brilliant positional sense means he rarely gets caught out, and Bayern is not a club prone to time-wasting.
Best Defender: Nico Schlotterbeck – SC Freiburg
22-year-old Nico Schlotterbeck put in a series of standout performances for sixth-placed SC Freiburg and, as a result, he’s earned two full caps for Germany and a 25-M Euros move to Borussia Dortmund.
Schlotterbeck is calm in possession, strong in the air, and a great ball-winner. He’s also a threat in attack, scoring four goals and making one assist while registering 18 shots on target through the campaign.
Freiburg made it to the DFB Pokal final this year and face RB Leipzig on Saturday night – a game we’re reporting on here at SBOTOP. If Freiburg are to upset the favourites, then Schlotterbeck will need to pull out another top performance for SC.
Best Midfielder: Joshua Kimmich – Bayern Munich
The Bundesliga 2022 betting oddsbacked Bayern Munich from the off and with players of the calibre of Kimmich in the side there is little wonder. While Bayern’s strikers often write the headlines, the performances of the 27-year-old Kimmich have been outstanding week by week. In 28 games, he has scored three goals and made 11 assists and the German international is one of the best passers in the game.
Equally efficient in attack or supporting his defence, Kimmich is the complete midfielder. And as he gains experience, he could emerge as one of the best deep-lying playmakers in world football.
Best Attacker: Christopher Nkunku – RB Leipzig
Yes, yes, I know. This is a touch controversial to choose anyone other than the imperious Robert Lewandowski, especially as Bayern’s lethal Pole might well have played his last game in the Bundesliga. But I’m picking Nkunku as the most improved striker and, at 24 years of age, one who will continue to write the headlines in European football for years to come.
The France striker has recently been awarded the title of “Bundesliga Player of the Year” having won the monthly award four times. Nkunku has scored 20 goals in the Bundesliga this term, bettered only by Lewa, Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick, and BVB’s Erling Braut Haaland.
And with Lewandowski and Haaland both destined for new pastures, Nkunku could have a tilt at the Golden Boot in the 2022/23 campaign. And only Lewandowski has had more goal involvements this season with 38 than Nkunku’s 20 goals and 13 assists.
Best Head Coach: Urs Fischer – Union Berlin
Julian Nagelsmann coached Bayern Munich to the title, but then he had the best players. So for my coach of the season, I’m going for Urs Fischer, who led Union Berlin to a fifth-place finish, which is some achievement for a team which only arrived in the Bundesliga in 2019.
Die Eisernen reached the semi-final of the DFB Pokal Cup, losing to RB Leipzig, and their Bundesliga 2022 resultswere simply sensational in the run in as they won six of the last seven – including victories over Eintracht Frankfurt and Leipzig, as well as thumping Hertha 4-1 in the Berlin derby.
The 56-year-old Swiss coach is ready to take the Eisernen on a European adventure and he is rightly adored by the fans.
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