Kimmich Dedicates Goal to Late Father in Bayern Munich Victory
Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich reflected on the passing of his father while dedicating his goal in Saturday’s 2-1 Bundesliga win against Mainz 05. The 31-year-old German international celebrated his opening goal in the 14th minute by jumping into the air and pointing upward in tribute.
Kimmich’s father, Berthold, died in October at the age of 57. Following the loss, the midfielder missed three competitive matches before his return in last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund. After the match on Saturday, Kimmich shared that being back on the field carries emotional challenges.
“Because of what happened with my dad, it was very emotional for me,” Kimmich told Kicker. “I actually thought about him immediately. Normally, you block those thoughts out on the football pitch. At the moment, however, being on the pitch is actually the most difficult part. When I’m playing football, that’s when I think about him most often, because football connected us so deeply. That’s why today was very emotional.”
Kimmich also noted, “I don’t score that many goals anyway. Naturally, I thought about him immediately after scoring. That’s why it was definitely more emotional than usual.”
Kimmich Commends Bayern Munich’s Support During Tough Times
The midfielder’s personal loss coincides with another challenging period for Bayern, as head coach Vincent Kompany is currently absent due to illness. Kimmich praised the solidarity within the team and coaching staff, asserting that their strong connections have been vital during these trying times.
“What we’ve built together over the past few years is very special,” Kimmich said. “The players, the coaching staff, and everyone around us have a great relationship and support each other in every situation.”
“With our coach being unavailable, that’s become clear once again. I’ve experienced things differently during my eleven years at Bayern.”
Teammate Aleksandar Pavlovic echoed Kimmich’s sentiments, highlighting the team’s close-knit atmosphere. “We live the ‘Mia san Mia’ mentality and are a family both on and off the pitch,” Pavlovic stated. “Especially over the past few weeks, we’ve been playing for our coach and the players who aren’t available. We’ve been doing that very well recently.”
Kimmich acknowledged that the victory against Mainz was not the team’s most convincing performance. However, he felt that they managed to defend their lead effectively and limited Mainz’s chances to level the score.
Ultimately, for Kimmich, the most memorable aspect of the day will remain his goal celebration in honor of his father.
