Joshua Kimmich Reflects on Emotional Return Following Father's Death
The Bayern Munich captain spoke openly about grief and returning to the pitch after a 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich recently shared his emotional experience of returning to competitive play following the sudden death of his father, Berthold Kimmich, who passed away at the age of 57. The player spoke publicly about the difficult period after leading his team as captain in a 2-2 Bundesliga draw against Borussia Dortmund.
Reflecting on the past week, Kimmich described the profound difficulty of his family's loss. He noted that his father had always supported him and maintained belief in him even during times when his own self-assurance wavered. Because of that close bond, returning to competitive sports presented an intense psychological challenge.
The midfielder explained that stepping onto the pitch actually triggered the strongest memories of his late father. Despite these heavy emotions, Kimmich emphasized that resuming his athletic routine was necessary to help reestablish a sense of normalcy in his daily life, acknowledging the bittersweet reality that the world keeps moving forward.
Prior to his return against Borussia Dortmund, Kimmich had missed three consecutive fixtures for Bayern Munich. His comeback match saw him receive warm support from teammates and opponents alike, including Borussia Dortmund national team colleagues such as Nico Schlotterbeck who embraced him after the final whistle.
Additionally, Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac reached out to offer his condolences, having previously worked with Kimmich at Bayern Munich. Kimmich expressed deep appreciation for the gesture, noting that Kovac had sent him a supportive message during the week and embraced him personally after the game.
Expressing gratitude for widespread empathy, the 31-year-old player thanked the club, the German Football Federation, and supporters for their solidarity. He remarked that the overwhelming display of sympathy and condolences provided significant comfort to him and his family during a challenging time.
On the pitch, the match itself ended in a 2-2 draw after Bayern twice took the lead through goals from Konrad Laimer and Dayot Upamecano, only to be matched by Dortmund. Kimmich addressed the result pragmatically, emphasizing that the squad must keep moving forward together while continuing to support one another.