Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player (2024)

Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player (1)

Former Bayern Munich and current Germany head coach Hansi Flick believes Joshua Kimmich can become the best player in the world. - © DFL

Former Bayern Munich and current Germany head coach Hansi Flick believes Joshua Kimmich can become the best player in the world. - © DFL

bundesliga
Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player (2)Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player (3)Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player (6)

In a Bayern Munich side blessed with Robert Lewandowski, Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller, among others, calling Joshua Kimmich the most important member is a bold claim - but far from an outlandish one.

And it goes some way to explaining why, with two years of his contract still to run and other first-team players closer to the ends of their respective deals, Bayern ensured it was Kimmich's future they resolved first, the 26-year-old having now extended his stay at the Allianz Arena through to 2026.

So what is it that makes him so special, so irreplaceable even? In his farewell interview as Bayern boss, Hansi Flick predicted that his successor Julian Nagelsmann will have "a lot of fun" with the team he left behind. That seems fairly obvious, given the sheer quantity of household names in the squad, but the new Germany coach also singled out Kimmich for special mention.

Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player (7)

Joshua Kimmich quickly became a favourite for Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich, and that will likely be the case for the German national team in the future. - getty images

"I think if he manages to channel his extraordinary ambition a little better and steers it in the right direction, then he can become the world's best player," Flick told 51, the official Bayern Munich magazine. "He's already a world-class player in several positions but he can take another step - and I hope he does."

A constant focus on the task at hand is what sets Kimmich apart, according to Flick, something that is clearly paying off for the Germany international.

An integral part of Bayern's sextuple-winning squad and already a six-time Bundesliga champion, Kimmich is showing plenty of signs that suggest he has the potential to meet Flick's prediction.

Having initially starred as a right-back with Bayern, the former VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig player has since made the No.6 role his own. He's only featured once at full-back in the Bundesliga since the start of 2020/21, and his influence in a central role for both club and country is increasing all the time.

Watch: Analysis: Kimmich the Boss

Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player (8)

Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player (9)

Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player (10)Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player (11)

Helping Bayern to win a ninth consecutive title in 2020/21, Kimmich touched the ball an average of 101 times over 90 minutes. That was the best total not just at the record German champions but among all the midfielders in the top flight.

A Germany international with more than a half century of caps to his name, Kimmich has a career passing accuracy of over 90 per cent. He's well able to mix it off the ball too, winning over 50 per cent of his challenges both on the ground and in the air in the 2020/21 Bundesliga campaign.

Kimmich's energy is hugely impressive. In 2019/20 he covered more ground than anyone else in the league (247 miles) and he might have topped that ranking again the following season had he not missed seven games through injury. As it was, he ran an average of 7.8 miles per game during 27 league appearances in 2020/21 - more than anyone else at Bayern.

With all that in mind, it's little wonder that ex-Germany striker Jürgen Klinsmann has praised Kimmich as a "very special player."

"The No. 6 role that Joshua is playing for Bayern Munich and for the national team has become like the quarterback role in American Football," the former Bayern, Germany and USA head coach explained to bundesliga.com in May 2021.

"Joshua plays that to perfection. He is not only feisty in terms of winning the ball back, he knows right away what to do with the ball and who to connect to. He keeps the tempo of the game in place."

This is where Kimmich's importance truly comes to the fore. Lewandowski, Neuer and Müller all bring leadership, experience and quality to the table, not to mention goals, saves and assists, but football is largely played in midfield. If you control that area, you control the game. Having an expert in doing so is one of the most sought-after commodities in the game.

Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player (12)

Joshua Kimmich is the key cog in the Bayern Munich machine which won seven titles in 18 months under Hansi Flick. - DFL

From Rottweil in the southwest of Germany, Bayern's midfield dynamo regularly produces an end product as well. As of the start of 2022, he had 33 goals and 75 assists in 279 games across all competitions for the record German champions, even if injury and illness reduced him to just 11 outings in the first half of the 2021/22 campaign.

He nevertheless had a hand in seven goals in those 11 games, havingcontributed directly to 14 goals in the Bundesliga across 2020/21 - scoring four and making 10 more. Five corners he took led to goals - second in the league only to Borussia Mönchengladbach's Jonas Hofmann and Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo (both six).

The manner in which Kimmich has been getting on the scoresheet, meanwhile, has showcased the full range of his ability. Few Bayern fans will forget his delicate chip over Roman Bürki late in the 2019/20 campaign, for example, a decisive strike that all but made certain his side would be German champions yet again. Or what about his improvised winner over Dortmund in the 2020 Supercup?

Seven of Kimmich's 11 Bundesliga goals since the summer of 2019 have come from range, showing that it's highly dangerous to leave him unmarked even outside the area.

Of the four Bundesliga goals he got in 2020/21, two came from distance, one was smashed home from right on the edge of the box, and the other was a close-range header. His first - a carefully placed curler into the top corner at Hoffenheim - won him September's Goal of the Month award. His last - a thunderous strike from outside the area in the final day success against Augsburg - suggests that he's hungry for more.

It's been an impressive rise to prominence for Kimmich, who was with Stuttgart to U19 level where he played alongside the likes of future Germany teammates Serge Gnabry and Timo Werner. He dropped down to Leipzig - then a third-tier side - in 2013 before his tenacity and talent got him a move to Bayern.

While at Leipzig Kimmich worked under fitness trainer Tim Lobinger, who previously won multiple medals as a pole vaulter for Germany. For Lobinger, like with Flick, it's no surprise that the Bayern midfielder has got to where he is today.

"He leaves no stone unturned because he always wants to know how he can get even better," Lobinger told German site Spox.

That attitude has served Kimmich well, and it is that, along with his mindset and all-round intensity, that arguably sets him apart even among elite players.

"We spoke briefly after the European Championship and he wanted to get back into training right away, without even going on holiday,” said Nagelsmann of his midfield general - before ordering him to take a vacation. "I try to pass on to him that he needs to allow himself rest periods in order to bring his mega-mentality and mega-quality onto the pitch."

Bayern are now set to reap the benefits of those traits for years to come; incidentally another of the key factors in Kimmich's growing standing at the club. The aforementioned superstar trio of Lewandowski, Neuer and Müller are all over 30 - the latter is the youngest of that group at 32, a full five and a half years older than Kimmich. He's not just vital for the present; he's also the team's future and de facto leader.

Kimmich is, then, the full package: an outstanding passer, a set-piece taker, a combative midfielder with a great engine, he scores goals as well as makes them. He rarely misses a match, and is now indispensable for club and country.

Can he become the best in the world? Flick doesn't get a lot wrong. Is he the most important player at Bayern? The timing and length of his contract extension probably tells you all you need to know about that.

About the clubs

FC Bayern München Allianz Arena

Related news

Aleix García inspires Leverkusen to winning startLeverkusen's pre-season began with victory in Essen as all four new signings made their mark.26.07.2024
Bundesliga pre-season schedulesBundesliga clubs are returning to training in the 2024/25 pre-season, with tours to the USA, Asia and South Africa, plus some high-profile friendly matches on the agenda.25.07.2024
Official Bundesliga 2 transfer centre: Summer 2024Read up on all the ins and outs across Bundesliga 2 throughout the summer transfer window...09.07.2024
Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player (2024)

FAQs

Why Joshua Kimmich is Bayern Munich’s most important player? ›

Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, he is known for his versatility, aggression and playmaking ability, and has been compared with former Bayern Munich and Germany

Germany
The Germany national football team (German: Deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft) represents Germany in men's international football and played its first match in 1908. The team is governed by the German Football Association (Deutscher Fußball-Bund), founded in 1900.
https://en.wikipedia.org › Germany_national_football_team
captain Philipp Lahm.

What makes Joshua Kimmich so good? ›

He is capable of delivering balls from deeper positions and of overlapping and then playing in behind defences, and when attempting either he takes few touches; if doing so from a central position he instead relishes his increased time and space, takes more touches to create the angle he seeks, and varies the nature of ...

Who is the greatest Bayern Munich player? ›

1. Franz Beckenbauer. Franz Beckenbauer is the best Bayern Munich player in history and one of the greatest defenders of all time. He dominated in defence and he helped Bayern to four Bundesliga championships and three consecutive European Cup victories from 1974 to 1976.

Who is Bayern Munich number 1? ›

Manuel Neuer: News & player profile - FC Bayern Munich.

Who is the best player in Bayern right now? ›

Best Players of Bayern Munich
  • Noel Aseko-Nkili. ...
  • Eric Dier. ...
  • Adam Aznou. ...
  • Sacha Boey. ...
  • Bryan Zaragoza. ...
  • Jonathan Asp-Jensen. ...
  • Matteo Perez-Vinlöf. ...
  • Max Scholze.

Why is Kimmich so famous? ›

Known for his versatility, aggression and playmaking ability, he has been compared with former Bayern Munich and Germany captain Philipp Lahm. After coming through RB Leipzig's youth academy, Kimmich began playing for the club's first team in 2013. Two years later, he joined Bayern Munich.

Who is the idol of Joshua Kimmich? ›

Xavi Hernández, the "great idol" of Joshua Kimmich.

Who is number 7 for Bayern? ›

Serge Gnabry Jersey | Number 7 in the FC Bayern Store.

Who is Bayern Munich's top goal scorer? ›

Gerd Müller

Why is Bayern Munich so famous? ›

Bayern are the most successful club in German football history, having won a record 33 national titles, including eleven consecutively from 2013 to 2023, and 20 national cups, along with numerous European honours.

Who is Bayern Munich's captain? ›

Manuel Peter Neuer (German pronunciation: [ˈmaːnu̯eːl ˈnɔʏ.ɐ, -ɛl -]; born 27 March 1986) is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich, who he captains, and the Germany national team.

Who is the main player of Bayern Munich? ›

National team players
PlayerAge
Harry Kane Centre-Forward3098
Joshua Kimmich Right-Back2991
Leroy Sané Right Winger2865
Raphaël Guerreiro Left-Back3065
18 more rows

Why does Bayern have 5 stars now? ›

From thirty championship titles won: five stars.

Currently no club wears four or three stars. With at least two stars cthe teams of Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund can come up. Counted here are only the championship titles from 1963.

Is Kimmich good at right-back? ›

Joshua Kimmich has set new standards since moving to the right-back role at FC Bayern Munich. His impressive performance has made him one of the most outstanding players in this position in the major European leagues. Kimmich has been playing at right-back since matchday 23 of this Bundesliga season.

How fast is Kimmich? ›

Benjamin Pavard — 32.53 kph. Joshua Kimmich — 32.49 kph. Leon Goretzka — 32.27 kph.

Is Kimmich a pivot? ›

Kimmich has been playing as a right-back in recent months under Thomas Tuchel, but even when he plays in midfield, he operates in a double pivot.

What happened with Kimmich? ›

Impact Kimmich is entering the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. Despite missing a few matches due to injury, he had a decent season, recording six assists and a goal.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Dong Thiel

Last Updated:

Views: 5303

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dong Thiel

Birthday: 2001-07-14

Address: 2865 Kasha Unions, West Corrinne, AK 05708-1071

Phone: +3512198379449

Job: Design Planner

Hobby: Graffiti, Foreign language learning, Gambling, Metalworking, Rowing, Sculling, Sewing

Introduction: My name is Dong Thiel, I am a brainy, happy, tasty, lively, splendid, talented, cooperative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.