- Nagelsmann is resolute about replacing Gündoğan in his role.
Julian Nagelsmann has named Joshua Kimmich as the fresh skipper of the German football team. The 29-year-old Bayern Munich player takes over from Ilkay Gundogan, as predicted, and will helm the German Football Association (DFB) team towards the 2026 World Cup in North America. Gundogan retired from international football following the home Euro.
Nagelsmann announced Antonio Rudiger and Kai Havertz as Kimmich's alternate captains. Speaking at the DFB team meeting in Herzogenaurach, Nagelsmann stated, "The captain is the team's representative, expressing their collective voice."
"Josh was among the three captains during the Euro, making him a natural choice when others were unavailable," the national coach added.
"Josh is one who always gives his best, sometimes to a fault, one who is always eager to win," Nagelsmann praised the appointed captain.
Beginning of Kimmich's Captaincy
Kimmich will don the captain's armband for the first time in the Nations League opener against Hungary in Duesseldorf this Saturday (20:45 CET). Unlike at FC Bayern Munich, Kimmich is expected to maintain his position as a right-back in the national team, rather than returning to central midfield. Nagelsmann highlighted, "Kimmich set the standard as a right-back at the Euro."
Becoming the team leader is a prestigious honor for Kimmich in his extended DFB career. Kimmich made his national team debut in the Euro warm-up match against Slovakia in May 2016, losing 1-3. He was also part of the team at the following tournament in France.
Many Trials for Joshua Kimmich
Since winning the Confederations Cup with a young squad in Russia in 2017, Kimmich's journey has been a mixed bag of luck. Early exits in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, disappointment at Euro 2021 - the German team's misfortunes were often linked to Kimmich's name. However, the home Euro marked a turning point. Kimmich claimed his leadership role, having previously worn the DFB armband several times, such as as a deputy to Manuel Neuer.
Promotion is merited. Kimmich leads the Nagelsmann squad with 91 international appearances. He could join the 100-club next summer. Behind him are Rudiger (74), Havertz (51), and Marc-Andre ter Stegen (40), who will take over from Manuel Neuer as the first-choice goalkeeper. The goalkeeper, along with Jonathan Tah, Pascal Groß, and Niclas Füllkrug, form the new team council.
Editor's note: An initial version of the article incorrectly stated that Kimmich succeeds Manuel Neuer as DFB captain. We apologize for any confusion.
The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Julian Nagelsmann's chosen captains, with Joshua Kimmich leading the way. The Commission, a part of the DFB, has endorsed Nagelsmann's decision to promote Kimmich, also naming Antonio Rudiger and Kai Havertz as alternate captains.
