Benedikt Höwedes or Mario Götze, Célia Sasic or Nadine Keßler. The list of players who’ve won DFB’s Fritz-Walter award for the Best Young Player is illustrious and many who win it go on to have great careers. The most current example of this is Joshua Kimmich. In 2013, as an under 18s player he won the silver medal in this award, a year later he won bronze. Now, the 21 year old is a member of the Germany national team and was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of the European Championships this summer. Also, for his club team Bayern München, he has also played in club footballs’ most prestigious competition – the UEFA Champions League.
This Wednesday, six new German junior footballers will follow in the footsteps of Götze, Kimmich and Co and will receive their medals before Die Mannschaft’s friendly against Finnland (20.45 CEST). In an interview with DFB.de, Joshua Kimmich speaks about how the careers of these young players could progress after receiving the award and also reveals any tips he has for the promising, young stars.
DFB.de: Mr Kimmich, you’ve won a Fritz-Walter medal twice. What memories do you have of winning those awards in 2013 and 2014?
Joshua Kimmich: Above all, my first award that I received in 2013 has stayed with me. The event took place in the garden of the Fritz-Walter-Haus, where Fritz Walter lived until his death. Therefore, the atmosphere was worthy of this event. I was nervous but very happy to receive the award.
DFB.de: Your career path certainly hasn’t been straight forward. Are there certain people who’ve been particularly important for you along the way, from VfB Bösingen to FC Bayern München?
Kimmich: Above all my family. They’ve always supported me, even in the bad times and when I’ve had to make important decisions - for example when I moved to Leipzig, when I was twelve and went to VfB Stuttgart and during my move to Bayern as a second division player. Also, I’ve always had coaches who’ve trusted me like Alexander Zorniger at Leipzig or Pep Guardiola last year. He allowed me to play in the Bundesliga, in the Champions League and in the DFB Cup with Bayern - he even trusted me in the important games.
DFB.de: Now you’re about to start your second season with FC Bayern. What goals have you set yourself for the next year?
Kimmich: For me, the most important thing is making sure I keep fit. I hope that I can get enough game time. We’ve got a new coach with Carlo Ancelotti. However, not a lot has changed within the team. I hope that I can win him over and work hard to earn his trust.
Benedikt Höwedes or Mario Götze, Célia Sasic or Nadine Keßler. The list of players who’ve won DFB’s Fritz-Walter award for the Best Young Player is illustrious and many who win it go on to have great careers. The most current example of this is Joshua Kimmich. In 2013, as an under 18s player he won the silver medal in this award, a year later he won bronze. Now, the 21 year old is a member of the Germany national team and was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of the European Championships this summer. Also, for his club team Bayern München, he has also played in club footballs’ most prestigious competition – the UEFA Champions League.
This Wednesday, six new German junior footballers will follow in the footsteps of Götze, Kimmich and Co and will receive their medals before Die Mannschaft’s friendly against Finnland (20.45 CEST). In an interview with DFB.de, Joshua Kimmich speaks about how the careers of these young players could progress after receiving the award and also reveals any tips he has for the promising, young stars.
DFB.de: Mr Kimmich, you’ve won a Fritz-Walter medal twice. What memories do you have of winning those awards in 2013 and 2014?
Joshua Kimmich: Above all, my first award that I received in 2013 has stayed with me. The event took place in the garden of the Fritz-Walter-Haus, where Fritz Walter lived until his death. Therefore, the atmosphere was worthy of this event. I was nervous but very happy to receive the award.
DFB.de: Your career path certainly hasn’t been straight forward. Are there certain people who’ve been particularly important for you along the way, from VfB Bösingen to FC Bayern München?
Kimmich: Above all my family. They’ve always supported me, even in the bad times and when I’ve had to make important decisions - for example when I moved to Leipzig, when I was twelve and went to VfB Stuttgart and during my move to Bayern as a second division player. Also, I’ve always had coaches who’ve trusted me like Alexander Zorniger at Leipzig or Pep Guardiola last year. He allowed me to play in the Bundesliga, in the Champions League and in the DFB Cup with Bayern - he even trusted me in the important games.
DFB.de: Now you’re about to start your second season with FC Bayern. What goals have you set yourself for the next year?
Kimmich: For me, the most important thing is making sure I keep fit. I hope that I can get enough game time. We’ve got a new coach with Carlo Ancelotti. However, not a lot has changed within the team. I hope that I can win him over and work hard to earn his trust.
DFB.de: Carlo Ancelotti is Pep Guardiola’s successor as manager. What do you think of him?
Kimmich: My first impression is very good. He’s very calm and level-headed and he’s also got a lot of charisma.
DFB.de: Guardiola gave you a lot of support. Will it be hard to adjust to having a new manager?
Kimmich: It’s not a big change, but it’s definitely something new. We will find out what the big differences are in the first few matches. I want to prove myself as much as possible in front of the new manager.
DFB.de: Bayern have continued to strengthen their squad with Mats Hummels in defence and Renato Sanches in midfield. Do you think they’ll get a place in the team this season and what do you think your chances are?
Kimmich: I feel most comfortable playing in defensive midfield. It’s the position that most suits how I want to play. However, of course there is competitive for every position in this time. There is more than one good player available for each position. It’s important for me to keep fit. I will most definitely try my best to show what I’m capable of in every training session and every match no matter where I end up in the end.
DFB: Last season you managed to gain experience in all competitions. Who do you think was your toughest opponent?
Kimmich: Alvaro Morata from Juventus was my toughest opponent. Pep Guardiola used me as a central defender in that game and Morata was playing as a centre forward. He’s quick, powerful and very skilful. The Spaniard was the best I have come against so far.
DFB: You were also included in the EURO 2016 squad last minute and then immediately put in the team at right back. What are your targets with the national team for the upcoming season?
Kimmich: Once you’ve had a taste of international football, you don’t want to let go of it. I have already been able to gain some experience with the national team and now I will do everything I can to try and stay in the team.
DFB: Were there players at the EUROS who would look after the younger players?
Kimmich: For us young players it wasn’t that difficult to find our feet in the squad since we already knew the established players quite well. The more experienced players took us in from the start. For me personally Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer were helpful go-to-people. On top of that all of us young players know each other well from the youth national sides and so we helped each other along.
DFB Did you have to do any sort of initiation after you played your first Germany game?
Kimmich: No not yet. I might have to do one at some stage though. At Bayern I had to sing a song and chose Dieser Weg by Xavier Naidoo. Luckily there were no cameras around!
DFB: On a final note, do you have any advice for any up-and-coming players? What do you have to do in order to make it?
Kimmich: Enjoyment and passion for the game are the most important things, even when things aren’t going well. Only if you really enjoy playing football can you give it your all.
