Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich was named captain of the Germany national team on Monday after his predecessor Ilkay Gündogan was among a number of senior players to retire from international duty following Euro 2024.
Kimmich will be backed by two vice-captains, Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger and Arsenal striker Kai Havertz, when he takes over the captaincy for the upcoming Nations League matches against Hungary on Saturday and the Netherlands on September 10.
Kimmich, 29, has not been the permanent captain of either Bayern or the national team until now, but has often taken on the role when other players have been injured or unavailable. He last started as Germany captain in a friendly match last year.
The German Football Association said on Monday that Kimmich had worn the captain's armband 17 times in a career that spanned 91 international matches. That total appeared to include games in which Kimmich took over the captaincy when another player was substituted.
Gündogan was named captain by then-coach Hansi Flick last year ahead of Germany hosting the 2024 World Cup, when the team reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champions Spain. He retired from international duty last month before returning from Barcelona to Manchester City.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said Kimmich was the “logical successor” to Gündogan as captain.
Other players who have retired from the national team since Euro 2024 include goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and striker Thomas Müller, both of whom were teammates with Kimmich at Bayern. Midfielder Toni Kroos retired from football after the tournament.
Despite the high-profile withdrawals, Nagelsmann named a squad with just one uncapped player for the Nations League, saying there had been “enough changes”.
On Monday, Nagelsmann also confirmed that he sees Barcelona's Marc-André ter Stegen as Germany's new first-choice goalkeeper instead of Neuer in Germany's plans for the 2026 World Cup. That decision was widely expected given that Ter Stegen has spent much of his international career so far as Neuer's understudy.
