Even under Klopp: Völler still sees Kimmich as DFB captain | OneFootball

With Jürgen Klopp, a new era is beginning for the German national team. After the disappointing performance at the 2026 World Cup, success is expected to return. One personnel decision, however, appears to be a foregone conclusion: According to Rudi Völler, Joshua Kimmich will continue to wear the captain’s armband.

Following another early World Cup exit and Julian Nagelsmann’s subsequent resignation, the DFB is looking ahead. With Jürgen Klopp, one of the most successful German coaches of recent years is taking over the national team and is expected to lead it back to the top of the world.

At least when it comes to the captaincy, however, DFB sporting director Rudi Völler does not expect any changes. On the sidelines of the “International Coaches’ Congress” in Mainz, the 66-year-old clearly expressed his support for Joshua Kimmich.

“Kimmich remains the right captain.”

When asked whether Kimmich would remain captain under Klopp, Völler replied unequivocally: “I’m assuming so. Jo Kimmich has proven in many international matches that he’s a standard-bearer, a great captain. I can’t imagine there will be any major change there.”

With this statement, the DFB’s sporting director is demonstratively backing the Bayern Munich player right before the team’s restart under Klopp. Kimmich has been regarded for years as one of the national team’s leading players and is apparently set to continue in that role in the future.

Völler also spoke about the special challenge awaiting the new national team coach. Despite his vast experience in club soccer, Klopp, too, will only fully come to understand the unique demands of the position.

Völler praises Klopp—and defends Nagelsmann

Photo: IMAGO

“He’s an incredibly experienced coach,” Völler said of Klopp. At the same time, he emphasized: “He’s already realizing just how demanding this job is. I’ve been through that experience myself—I held the position for four years—and it’s just not like coaching a club team.”

The 1990 World Cup champion pointed to the enormous public pressure associated with the DFB head coaching position: “You can be at the best clubs in the world, but being the national team coach for a major federation—and Germany still is one—is a huge burden. And he’ll realize—I’ve told Julian this time and again—that no matter what decision you make—whether it’s about player selection, the lineup, or tactics—there are 80 million people weighing in on it. And you can’t please everyone.”

In closing, Völler also defended his predecessor, Julian Nagelsmann, who had stepped down. He said Nagelsmann had been criticized too harshly in some quarters following the World Cup debacle: “He doesn’t deserve that. He’s a top-notch guy, a great young man with a very bright coaching career ahead of him—he’s still young, after all. I’m sure it won’t be long before he’s back at a top club. I’d bet a lot on that.”

With these statements, Völler makes it clear that, despite the personnel shake-up, the DFB is prioritizing continuity in key leadership roles—and that Joshua Kimmich is expected to continue playing a key role in this regard.