In the new leadership structure, Nagelsmann designates Kimmich as the fresh captain for the DFB team.
After the retirement of Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller, captain Ilkay Gündogan, and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the German football national team is in need of a rebuild. New coach Julian Nagelsmann has chosen Joshua Kimmich as the new team captain. Antonio Rüdiger and Kai Havertz will serve as his deputies.
Kimmich, a 29-year-old player from Bayern Munich, was appointed by Nagelsmann on Monday in Herzogenaurach. He'll take over the captaincy duties from Gündogan during the team's match against Hungary on Saturday (20:45 CET) in Düsseldorf for the Nations League.
This move is not unprecedented for Kimmich, who has donned the captain's armband seven times before, always as a stand-in. He continues a tradition of Bayern captains representing the German national team, with legends like Lothar Matthäus, Franz Beckenbauer, Manuel Neuer, and Philipp Lahm among his predecessors.
Nagelsmann praised Kimmich's mentality and considered him a logical successor to Gündogan as captain. "The captain represents the team's viewpoint to the coaching staff," Nagelsmann said. "Kimmich, Rüdiger and Havertz give us a great balance."
Ter Stegen takes the main spot
Marc-André ter Stegen has been promoted to the number one goalkeeper position for the German football national team, after years of waiting. Former goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had been in the role for fifteen years, retired from the national team.
Ter Stegen, 32, had served as a reliable backup for Neuer, even after Neuer's skiing accident left him with a lower leg fracture. Neuer returned in time for the home European Championship, while ter Stegen moved back to the bench. "Ter Stegen deserves this spot now," said Nagelsmann.
Ter Stegen has played nine years as an undisputed goalkeeper at Barcelona and has been captain since the start of this season. He has a total of 40 international appearances, starting from his debut in 2012.
For the Nations League matches against Hungary and the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Tuesday, Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim) and Alexander Nübel (VfB Stuttgart) have also been nominated. Both players are yet to make their international debuts. "The position is secured, but it's still up for grabs behind it," said Nagelsmann.
Kimmich, leading the DFB team as captain, follows in the footsteps of Bayern Munich legends like Lothar Matthäus and Manuel Neuer. Meanwhile, Ter Stegen, who has served as a reliable backup to Neuer in the past, has taken over the number one goalkeeper position for the DFB team, following Neuer's retirement.
