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Germany has a lot of issues, but respect for the captain of the football team — Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer — does not appear to be one of them.
Neuer is widely liked and known as a true leader of the squad. Former Germany great Michael Ballack, however, thinks that it might be a good time to shake things up by naming fiery midfielder Joshua Kimmich as the new captain.
We already have heard that Hansi Flick plans to keep Neuer in place as captain, but Ballack states that he would not rule out changing the title and further enhancing Kimmich’s role within the team:
Michael Ballack suggests Kimmich as new #GER captain: "Maybe it's an option for Flick to change something in the captaincy, to create new impulses. I took over the captaincy from Oliver Kahn back in the day. It could help Kimmich develop even more as a personality" [@RND_de] pic.twitter.com/vQiAUhVczr
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) July 1, 2021
Sure, changing a captain at the same time a new coach is looking to turn the page on the past is not the worst idea, but the timing of a move like this would likely do more harm than good.
Given Neuer’s reputation and popularity among his peers and opponents alike, making such a move would probably not be a great idea as one of Flick’s first changes.