German national team captain Joshua Kimmich will retain his leadership role under new head coach Jürgen Klopp and return to his preferred central midfield position, breaking away from the right-back role he played during the 2026 World Cup, following a series of tournament disappointments.
The Next Reboot Under Jürgen Klopp
Joshua Kimmich stands as a central figure in the turbulent recent history of the German national team. Having played in three World Cups—2018, 2022, and 2026—the 31-year-old midfielder has accumulated 114 international caps without securing a major title. The team’s exit in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup marked yet another early tournament departure.
Now, a new era begins. Newly appointed national team coach Jürgen Klopp has made it clear that Kimmich remains a pillar of the squad. During his first roster nomination, Klopp set a direct expectation for the veteran player, stating, “Ich erwarte, dass er sein Potenzial bei uns jedes Mal voll einbringt.”
Shifting Back to the Center
Under the previous tournament setup, Kimmich was deployed almost exclusively as a right-back. Klopp, however, has decided to move him back into the central midfield—the position where the Bayern Munich player feels most comfortable and where he operates for his club. According to reports from Bild, Klopp informed Kimmich of this tactical shift during a stadium visit on the opening matchday of the Bundesliga season, where Bayern defeated VfB Stuttgart 5:1.
This positional change leaves a vacancy at right-back for the DFB squad. Potential candidates under consideration for the position include Ridle Baku of RB Leipzig and Elias Baum of Eintracht Frankfurt. Meanwhile, in the central midfield, Kimmich could be partnered with players like Felix Nmecha or his club teammate Aleksandar Pavlovic as Klopp evaluates different lineup variations.
Weighing Experience Against Leadership Expectations
Kimmich’s status as captain and central midfielder has not gone without debate. Former national player Max Kruse voiced public doubts about Kimmich’s leadership capabilities, arguing that leadership requires more than just wearing the captain’s armband.
Conversely, defending Kimmich in the SPORT1 podcast “Die Bayern-Woche,” chief reporter Stefan Kumberger emphasized the player’s unique background. Having joined FC Bayern in 2015 at age 20 from 2nd Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, Kimmich developed under managers such as Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, and Jupp Heynckes. “Es dürfte keinen aktiven Nationalspieler geben, der einen solchen Wissensfundus und so viel Erfahrung gesammelt hat. Deswegen ist er für den Umbruch unter Klopp wichtig,” Kumberger noted.
Kimmich has also shouldered public responsibility off the pitch, frequently facing the media after difficult matches for Bayern Munich and speaking on topics beyond football. At 31 years old, Kimmich is positioned not as a prospect for the distant future, but as the senior figure tasked with driving the national team’s immediate restructuring.
