Real Madrid star named national team vice-captain

A leading member of the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid has on Tuesday been named his country’s new vice-captain.

The player in question? Antonio Rüdiger.

Amid something of a passing of the guard following the recent international retirements of all of İlkay Gündoğan, Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos and Thomas Müller, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann was left with a major call to make, regarding his side’s next leader.

And, on Tuesday, the former Bayern Munich boss announced precisely as much.

Set to take over captaincy duties for Die Mannschaft is long-time Bayern standout Joshua Kimmich.

And backing the versatile midfielder as vice-captain, as alluded to above, will be Real Madrid stalwart Antonio Rüdiger.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of his side’s upcoming meetings with Hungary and the Netherlands, Nagelsmann announced:

“We have appointed three new captains. Joshua Kimmich is captain number one, then Antonio Rüdiger, and Kai Havertz behind them.”

Conor Laird | GSFN