Joshua Kimmich appointed Germany’s new captain after senior players retire

Kimmich will be backed up by two vice-captains, Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger and Arsenal forward Kai Havertz, when he takes up the captaincy for upcoming Nations League games against Hungary and the Netherlands.

Joshua Kimmich prior to a friendly football match between Germany and Greece in June 2024. | Photo Credit: AFP

Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich was appointed captain of Germany’s national team on Monday after his predecessor Ilkay Gundogan was among a string of senior players to retire from international duty after Euro 2024.

Kimmich will be backed up by two vice-captains, Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger and Arsenal forward Kai Havertz, when he takes up the captaincy for upcoming Nations League games against Hungary on Saturday and the Netherlands on Sept. 10.

The 29-year-old Kimmich hasn’t been the permanent captain for Bayern or the national team before, but he has often stepped into the role when other players have been injured or unavailable. He last started a Germany game as captain in friendlies last year.

The German football federation said Monday that Kimmich had worn the captain’s armband 17 times in a career spanning 91 international games. 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 2024, when the team reached the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Spain. He retired from international duty last month ahead of a return 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 forward Thomas Müller, both teammates of Kimmich at Bayern. Midfielder Toni Kroos retired from all soccer following the tournament.

Despite the high-profile retirements, Nagelsmann has named a squad with only one uncapped player for the Nations League, saying there had been “enough changes.”

Also Monday, Nagelsmann confirmed he sees Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen as Germany’s new starting goalkeeper in place of Neuer as Germany plans for the 2026 World Cup. That decision was widely expected after ter Stegen spent much of his international career so far as Neuer’s backup.