Team of the Season is just around the corner, so we thought we'd make some predictions for who we expect to see in each of the major league Team of the Season squads coming during the promo this year.
Through the words of Patric, and the graphics of Helmar Designs, we'll show you who's expected to star in each team, explain the reasons for their inclusion, and give you a glimpse of what their Team of the Season Items could look like.
In the last article, we looked at who could be in the Premier League TOTS, but today we'll be taking a look at potential players from the Bundesliga.
Bundesliga Team of the Season Prediction
Bundesliga TOTS Starting XI
GK: Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund)
Starting the prediction for the Bundesliga with a position with not that many contenders and without Manuel Neuer. Gregor Kobel has been under contract with Borussia Dortmund since 2021 and since then he's developed into one of the best keepers in the league and this season, even one of the best keepers in Europe. His record of nine clean sheets doesn't put him top of the charts (it's 10) but his heroics have saved Borussia Dortmund more than once and a TOTS is totally deserved.
CB: Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund)
Next up is our first defender in the name of Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund. The former SC Freiburg defender joined the club on a 5-year deal and the imposing centre-back is definitely among the best defenders in the league now after having a bit of a shaky start to the 2022/23 campaign. The German international developed even more after his breakout season with Freiburg and his partnership with Niklas Süle seems to be the future for Borussia Dortmund.
CB: Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich)
The next central defender is one from FC Bayern in the name of Matthijs de Ligt. Matthijs de Ligt put on a defensive performance for the ages in Bayern München’s clean sheet victory over PSG in the second leg of the 2022/23 Champions League Round of 16, just as he did in the group stages against former Bayern superstar striker Robert Lewandowski, now of Barcelona. After building a legacy as a prospect in 2018/19 by captaining Ajax to a fairytale Champions League run, de Ligt quickly became a leader in Turin after a big-money move to Juventus. Seeing the poor decisions the Bianconeri's board made and realizing he needed to seek another opportunity, de Ligt joined perennial champions Bayern in the summer 2022 transfer window in the pursuit of Champions League glory.De Ligt has rebounded from an understandably disappointing 2021/22 campaign with Juve, re-establishing himself as one of the best all-around central defenders in the world.
RWB: Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)
At 22 years, Jeremie Frimpong is having the best season of his career. However, given his talent, these performances are nowhere close to what he can produce when he does hit his prime in a few years. The Dutch right-back, signed by the German club in 2021, has come to his own in the third season and has been one of the few positives for his team. Leverkusen is a club that the top clubs have regularly raided for their talented young players and it's highly likely that Jeremy Frimpong will depart for a top club this summer with his impressive numbers of 8 goals and six assists.
CM: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
The Englishman has somehow elevated his game once again and demonstrated noticeable progression from the previous season. So enthralling have his performances been that he’s quickly become virtually every club’s dream midfield signing. But whilst Europe’s elite line up to make their sales pitch to BVB, Bellingham continues to chisel away at the minuscule weak spots in his absurdly gifted repertoire. He’s improved his finishing in front of goal, retained his unparalleled motor, and even captained the club at just 19 years of age. Terzic asks a lot of him and will not refrain from doing so as the club navigates towards the final games of the season and probably Bellingham's final Bundesliga games too as he's likely to leave at the end of the season.
CDM: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
The most unheralded position in the game is bursting with quality and Joshua Kimmich has nailed the role. One of the bargain buys of the century - Bayern Munich handed RB Leipzig €7 million for his signature in 2015 - Kimmich has won 11 major trophies at club level including the 2019/20 Champions League. As well as being aggressive off the ball and an expert at winning it back, the Germany international is also slick in possession and contributes to the attacking side of the game with a deadly shot and decent crossing ability.
LM: Vincenzo Grifo (Freiburg)
One of the few players who's not playing for Dortmund or Bayern but still makes it into the Bundesliga TOTS on a regular basis is Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo. The Italian midfielder is already a club legend and one of their most consistent performers over the past years. He is enjoying another pretty impressive campaign this season, currently sitting at 13 goals and four assists and recently eliminated Bayern in the German Cup.
RM: Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen)
Playing for Bayer Leverkusen, Moussa Diaby is a product of the Paris Saint-Germain youth academy that has, over the years, produced some fine young talents. Diaby is one of the best products to come out of the academy in recent years. The youngster is already becoming an integral part of the French national team and is already one of Leverkusen's most important players. With nine goals and six assists so far this season he's one of the reasons Leverkusen is able to push for a UCL starting spot after a bad first half of the season.
CAM: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
Germany may have made an early exit from the World Cup in Qatar, but that doesn’t mean all is doom and gloom for either the short or long term. There was no player which impressed more than Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala. The 19-year-old midfielder has already solidified his place as the primary creative mind for both club and country and looked to be the only player who could have single-handedly willed the Germans past the group stage. In the Bundesliga, the youngster keeps impressing with very few exceptions and with eleven goals and nine assists there's no doubt he'll pick up a TOTS card.
ST: Niclas Füllkrug (Werder Bremen)
This season, Niclas Fülkrug is the highest-scoring German in the Bundesliga with 16 goals and 5 assists in 26 games. He was vital in Bremen’s promotion last season and formed a partnership with Marvin Ducksch. Füllkrug’s form earned him an unlikely call-up for the Germany World Cup squad. He was Germany’s top scorer with goals against Spain and Costa Rica. Bremen, currently sitting ninth in the Bundesliga, will most likely be without him after this season as his performances raised the interest of other clubs and it was reported he wants to leave in the summer so this could be his last Bundesliga TOTS card.
ST: Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfurt)
Kolo Muani has turned the heads of several European heavy spenders with his performances at the Deutsche Bank Park this season. The France international is spearheading Frankfurt’s push for a European berth under the tutelage of Oliver Glasner, racking up 12 goals and 10 assists in 25 Bundesliga outings. The 24-year-old's breakout season has caught the attention of several top clubs, including Premier League giants Manchester United and Bundesliga heavyweight FC Bayern. Frankfurt is hoping of keeping him at least for another season but if not they're looking at a sale worth more than 100 million.
Bundesliga TOTS Substitutes
LB: Raphaël Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)
Raphael Guerreiro's future at Borussia Dortmund remains open with his contract set to expire after the season. But the results since his move from defence to midfield have shown that he's a player worth the investment. Since joining from French side Lorient in 2016, Guerreiro has provided quality both in defence and midfield. Guerreiro's ability to play in midfield, especially at the level he has the games, should be a convincing prospect for the club. The departure of Bellingham is inevitable and having someone of Guerreiro's skillset around could help Terzic's side cope with the loss.
CB: Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
In some quarters, Dayot Upamecano is regarded as the best center-back in the Bundesliga this season. And he has the potential to become the best defender in the world. The 23-year-old is blessed with great athleticism and good reading of the game that has seen his stock rise in world football. After having errors in his game in the 2021/22 season, he's now basically playing without making major mistakes and on top of that providing attacking threats too.
CDM: Ellyes Skhiri (FC Köln)
Tunisia and FC Köln midfielder Ellyes Skhiri has excelled the last two seasons with the Effzeh, being the master of midfield in Steffen Baumgart’s 4-4-2 diamond. His contractual situation only makes him an even better market opportunity for big clubs and after performing very well at the World Cup with Tunisia, Die Geißböcke midfielder is hearing more and more rumours linking him with top-tier clubs in Europe. Köln’s running man is one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga and holds a profile that is key to any club, so a transfer would not be a huge loss for Cologne but at the same time a big increase in quality for his future club.
RM: Jonas Hofmann (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Speaking of versatility, Gladbachs Jonas Hofmann is one of the most versatile players in the Bundesliga. After a stellar 2021/22 season, the German international entered the current campaign as a key player for both Gladbach and the national team and did not disappoint in a Gladach side which is way behind their own expectations. He's not flashy in any way, and he does not possess a lightning-quick speed, but he has intelligence, technique as well as an incredible motor and, with 8 goals and 8 assists, he's the catalyst in Gladbachs attack.
Bundesliga TOTS Honourable Mentions
CB: Danilho Doekhi (Union Berlin)
Promoted to the Bundesliga only in 2019, Union Berlin has become a force to reckon with a mix of youth and experience. And centre-back Danilho Doekhi is a name that has been among their top performers this season. The Dutchman, who joined the club in the summer, developed into one of the best defenders of the Bundesliga and is one of the main reasons why his club is having an insane season.
RWB: Mitchell Weiser (Werder Bremen)
When talking about fullbacks or to be more precisive, wing-backs, we have to talk about Bremen's Mitchell Weiser. After already establishing himself as a regular Bundesliga player and as one of Bremens' best players this season with 1 goal and 8 assists, the winger would like to make another dream come true and play at a major international tournament. Not for Germany as you may imagine but for Algeria as Weiser is considering changing national team, the Cologne-born winger has Algerian roots on his mother's side. Bremen tho can hope he'll stay for a while, the 28-year-old and his family are very happy in Bremen, and he may pick up another TOTS in the future if he can keep his form.
RM: Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund)
After a quiet couple of seasons at BVB after joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2019, Julian Brandt has become an integral part of an exciting side that is fighting for the Bundesliga title. Though traditionally a wide player, the 26-year-old has spent a lot of his time playing as either an attacking midfielder or central midfielder too. In 32 games across all competitions for Dortmund this season, Brandt has tallied nine goals and five assists, and his form has not gone unnoticed. Borussia Dortmund just recently extended his contract for another two years, a result of Brandt's performances and he can finally be considered a key player.
RM: Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig)
Another former Red Bull Salzburg product, the Hungarian midfielder arrived in Leipzig with plenty of hype in the summer of 2021. While showing flashes of his skill set and incredible efficiency with set-piece opportunities, it has been this season that he’s been able to remain healthy and get a consistent run of games. Now reunited with his former manager at Salzburg, Marco Rose, he’s got the chance to elevate his game even further and develop into the potentially world-class creative force that many presumed he’d eventually be. It would appear that all of the necessary pieces are now in place for this to become a reality.
ST: Sheraldo Becker (Union Berlin)
The next player is coming from a side which is very unexpected sitting third in the Bundesliga table, in the name of Union Berlin. Usually, when you're talking about Berlin in football terms you'll talk about Hertha Berlin but city rivals Union took the bragging rights and is the number one club in the capital city. Union may not play the most adorable football but it's quite effective and one of their best players is Sheraldo Becker, who's sitting at eight goals and four assists so far.
When is the Bundesliga TOTS released for FIFA 23?
The Bundesliga TOTS will be released on May 12th, 2023.
Do you agree with our Bundesliga Team of the Season? Did we miss anyone? Let us know in the comments!
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