- Kimmich planning DFB captaincy shift: "Ilkay has ceased to hold..."
It appears Bayern star, Joshua Kimmich, is positioning himself as a potential contender for the captaincy role in the German national football team. Previously serving as Ilkay Guendogan's deputy, Kimmich could step into the position after Guendogan's departure from the DFB squad. As Kimmich expressed after Bayern Munich's 2-0 win over SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga, "I was the second captain during the Euros. Now that Ilkay has retired, roles will shift, cards will be redistributed."
German players will gather in Herzogenaurach on Monday to prepare for matches against Hungary and the Netherlands in the Nations League. With the retirement of 2014 World Cup winners Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, and Guendogan, the 29-year-old Kimmich, boasting 91 international caps, becomes the most experienced player in coach Julian Nagelsmann's squad.
Kimmich confesses he has yet to discuss the captaincy role with Nagelsmann, unsure if he is the rightful successor to Guendogan. "I'm not sure, we'll see. To be honest, I haven't given it much thought," Kimmich admits regarding his eagerness for the captaincy position. "I'll arrive tomorrow. Then we'll see what the coach has to say." Nagelsmann is scheduled to hold a press conference in Herzogenaurach on Monday at 2:30 PM, where he is expected to disclose his decision on the captaincy.
Kimmich will join his German teammates in Herzogenaurach for preparations ahead of the Nations League matches against Hungary and The Netherlands. After the retirement of several veteran players, Kimmich, being from The Netherlands, now holds the most international experience in the squad.
