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Before Joshua Kimmich joined Bayern Munich in 2015, he had already built somewhat of a reputation in German football as a talented young midfielder. The then-20 year old had impressed many an admirer during his stint at the infamous RB Leipzig, and had a host of suitors chasing his signature. But as soon as Bayern Munich joined the race, it was simply a formality. In January 2015, Kimmich agreed to join the Bavarian giants in the summer of 2015. Under the tutelage of one Pep Guardiola, it didn't take long for the boy from Rottweil to show why Bayern paid €7million for his services, which seems like an absolute bargain today.
During the 2015-16 season, Kimmich made a total of 23 Bundesliga appearances, 15 of which were starts. This was aided by his versatility and flexibility in Guardiola's many different systems. Primarily a central midfielder at the time, he could fill in at defensive midfield, right-back, and even centre-back in a 3-man defence. This versatility would prove to be vital in making the German starlet the superstar he is today.
The 2015-16 season truly did turn out to be a breakout season for Munich’s hottest prospect, as he was selected for Germany’s UEFA Euro 2016 squad. Was Kimmich just there to make up numbers, or did he actually have a part to play? Thankfully, the latter was true. Whilst Howedes began the tournament as Germany’s starting right-back, Joachim Löw gave Josh a starting berth for the final group game, and never looked back from there. Kimmich retained his place in the side for the rest of the tournament, putting on impressive performances throughout. Not only did this give Germany a young, technical option at right-back once again, but it also meant that Bayern Munich had a long-term replacement for Philipp Lahm - big shoes to fill.
The 2016-17 season presented an interesting challenge for Joshua Kimmich. He was given the opportunity to operate as understudy to Philipp Lahm, who was set to retire at the end of the season. Additionally, he was given various opportunities to play a more advanced midfield role - opportunities he took very impressively. Kimmich managed an impressive 6 Bundesliga goals and 3 Champions League goals in a total of 18 starts in both competitions. Once again, the versatility of the young German was tested and he passed with flying colours.
Via- @FussballRadars
The diagram above displays just how proficient Joshua Kimmich was during the 2016-17 season. As this is a creative CM template and Kimmich played in a number of roles and positions, it may not look like a traditional radar, but it is still clear that his end product is sublime, regardless where he’s being played. He is also very tidy on the ball, made evident by his lack of dispossessions. And whilst his offensive contributions are very impressive, we cannot disregard how solid he is defensively as well; very rarely being dribbled past and averaging a number of tackles per 90. He is a wonderfully complete player, and it's no mystery as to why he's become such a vital cog in the Bayern and DFB machine.
Whilst his first two seasons in Bavaria were impressive and showed his very high potential, this season has truly solidified Joshua Kimmich’s position as quite possibly the best right-back in world football. As with Sergi Roberto, we've seen the benefits of converting a central midfielder into a full-back. A big reason for this is their spacial awareness, particularly in the halfspace. This is an area that both Kimmich and Roberto excel in, having the mental capacity to acknowledge the space and the athleticism to exploit it. Joshua is also a pinpoint passer of the ball, giving him the ability to play passes between the lines or ping the ball to the opposite flank with ease. But perhaps his most impressive attribute is his crossing. Kimmich may very well be the best crossing full-back in the world, and that's made particularly evident by the fact that he has provided 9 Bundesliga assists this season. When the ball is at his feet, the boy knows how to create chances. Now let’s look at how he compares to some of the best right-backs in Europe at the moment:
Via- Squawka.com
The statistics speak for themselves, and if you listen closely enough, they're whispering “Joshua Kimmich is the best right-back in the world”. Of course, this is only a reflection of this season, but it goes without saying that the German utility-man is nothing short of superb, particularly in the attacking phase. Bayern Munich have historically always been an attacking side, and they expect that contribution from all areas of the pitch, so it must be particularly pleasing for them that their main man at right-back is contributing so greatly.
At just 23 years of age, it's frightening to imagine just how much Joshua Kimmich may accomplish in the game. In 2016, he was selected in the UEFA Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament. In 2017, he became the youngest player to captain the German National Team since 1912. He has also made 24 consecutive 90 minute appearance for the German National Team, an astonishing figure bested only by Berti Vogts. And perhaps most impressively, Joshua Kimmich was named his national team’s Player of the Year for 2017, and based on everything this article has told you, can this really come as a surprise? This young warrior has achieved so much in his short career, and he's only just getting started. On his current trajectory, it certainly won't be long before he's made captain for club and country; an honour he arguably already deserves. But I'm sure, for the time being, he'll settle for being the best right-back in the world.