Joshua Kimmich has experienced a whirlwind of emotions over the past few months, with highs and lows creating various possibilities for his football career.

From leaving Bayern Munich to potentially resigning from the German national team, nothing seemed off the table. However, after what appeared to be a period of decline, the 29-year-old Bayern midfielder, who has earned 91 caps for Germany, has now become the leading figure in the squad’s generational shift following the 2014 World Cup victory.

Ahead of the UEFA Nations League matches against Hungary this Saturday in Dusseldorf and in Amsterdam, the Netherlands next Monday, German coach Julian Nagelsmann appointed Kimmich as the team’s new captain. This decision comes after several retirements, including those of Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, and Ilkay Gundogan.

Kimmich’s transformation into an irreplaceable cornerstone during the home tournament signals a turnaround in his fortunes at both the club and national levels.

With Bayern’s newly
appointed coach, Vincent Kompany, restoring Kimmich to the midfield, the Bavarians are set to extend his contract, which currently runs until the summer of 2025.

Following a trophy-less season under former coach Thomas Tuchel, Kimmich faced criticism and was seen as one of the reasons for Bayern’s struggles. However, under Kompany’s new tactical approach, Kimmich has regained his importance to the team.

Nagelsmann described Kimmich’s promotion to captain as “a natural choice,” noting that he had served as vice-captain alongside Neuer and former captain Gundogan in recent months.

“The captain is always a representative of all in the squad. Joshua stands for determination and mentality,” the German coach stated. Nagelsmann also praised Kimmich as “a mentality monster getting along well with everyone.”

Nagelsmann commended Kimmich’s ability to be candid, saying, “He always expresses his true opinion and doesn’t just agree with everything.”

With Neuer retiring after 124 appearances for Germany, Barcelona goa
lkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been named the new No. 1, and Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller has been called up for the first time.

“We are ahead of a generation change and have to replace a leading figure such as Toni Kross,” said Nagelsmann. He added that responsibilities will be distributed among several players, with Dortmund and former Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross expected to take on a leading role.

Unlike at Bayern, Kimmich is expected to continue as a full-back for the national team, “depending on our system; if necessary, he will be moving to midfield,” Nagelsmann explained.

Kimmich set new benchmarks during the Euro tournament, where statistical data highlighted him as the best in his position in the back row, according to Nagelsmann.

The match against Hungary will mark Kimmich’s eighth appearance as Germany’s captain. The 2024-2025 season opener represents a new era in German football and has dispelled any doubts about the player’s future. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency