On Friday, Germany manager Hansi Flick stated that Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan will serve as the team’s captain. This news comes nine months before Germany will host the European Championship in 2024.
Before making the move to La Liga, Gundogan led Manchester City to the title of champions of both the Premier League and Europe during the 2022–2023 season.
The international friendly match between Germany and Japan will take place on Saturday in Wolfsburg, and the 32-year-old player will wear the captain’s armband for Germany.
Joshua Kimmich was appointed captain for the two friendly matches that took place in March and June of 2022 by Flick. This was done because Manuel Neuer, the team’s goalkeeper, suffered a fracture to his right leg in an accident that occurred when he was skiing at the beginning of December 2022.
“It gives a new energy, which we can use,” Flick remarked of the “leadership duo” he was hoping to build between Gundogan and Kimmich, who is a 28-year-old midfielder for Bayern. “It gives a new energy, which we can use.”
“I am really ecstatic about this vote of confidence. It is a huge honor for me to guide this still young squad,” said Gundogan, adding that he was conscious of the “obligation” that came along with guiding the team that has won both the world championship and the European championship four times each.