Kimmich to Remain Germany Captain Under Klopp

Joshua Kimmich looks set to remain the face – and voice – of the German national team, even after the World Cup disappointment and the arrival of Jürgen Klopp.

Despite Germany’s early Round of 32 exit, sporting director Rudi Völler made it clear in Mainz that he expects continuity when it comes to the captaincy.

“I assume so,” Völler said at the International Coaches’ Congress, when asked if Kimmich would stay on as captain, according to DPA.

Völler did not dress it up. For him, Kimmich has already passed the audition.

“Jo Kimmich has proven in many international matches that he is a leader and a great captain. I cannot imagine there will be any major change in that position.”

The message was unmistakable: the armband sits well on Kimmich’s arm.

Völler still underlined the hierarchy. The final call belongs to Klopp, who steps into the job with his own ideas and a long track record of shaping dressing rooms in his image. Yet even there, Völler sees no signs of a shake-up.

“We have all followed what he has said. You didn’t really get the impression that anything else was planned.”

Kimmich only took over the captaincy after Euro 2024, succeeding Ilkay Gündogan. The handover marked a generational shift, and despite the latest setback on the world stage, the DFB appears determined not to tear everything up and start again.

Klopp will bring energy, confrontation and change in many areas. On the question of captaincy, though, all roads currently lead back to the same man: Joshua Kimmich.