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Is Wilfried Nancy going to become the new Celtic manager?

Well, it was reported last week that Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney will remain in interim charge for Saturday night’s short trip to St Mirren, but for how much longer will that remain the case?

Other reports suggest that the Hoops are close to agreeing a £2m compensation package with Nancy’s current club Columbus Crew, with the aim for the Frenchman to take charge for the first time when the Celts visit Easter Road to take on Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday 30 November.

Should Nancy swap Ohio for Glasgow, he would have plenty of work to do and numerous issues to solve, but ensuring Daizen Maeda stays in Scotland will no doubt be of great importance.

The latest on Daizen Maeda's future

Back in September, after the transfer window had closed, Maeda revealed that he had requested to leave Celtic this summer.

However, with the club struggling to replace Nicolas Kühn and Adam Idah, who were both sold, the Japan international was informed that he would not be allowed to depart.

Well, potentially as a result of this uncertainty, Maeda has not been at his blistering best so far this season, bagging just four goals to date, having netted 33 times across all competitions last season, four of which came in the Champions League.

After adding to his goal tally against Kilmarnock last time out, the 28-year-old started at left-wing-back as Japan beat Bolivia 3-0 in an international friendly on Tuesday, so could he push for a January move to help increase his chances of being included in Hajime Moriyasu’s World Cup squad?

Well, according to Fabrizio Romano, it is a “possibility” that the forward will be on the move in January, with Brentford, Everton, Leeds and two other Premier League clubs purportedly interested.

Considering that, since netting four minutes into his debut against Hibs in January 2022, Maeda has scored 66 goals in 175 appearances in hoops, he would be a massive loss, but could the incoming boss, Nancy, fill this void by bringing with him a star he knows rather well?

Celtic's potential Maeda replacement

When Ange Postecoglou arrived from Yokohama F. Marinos, he utilised his knowledge of the J League, an undervalued market, to sign gems for a cut-price, bringing in Kyōgo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Maeda himself.

Well, with Major League Soccer in a similar position, could Nancy follow this blueprint?

According to a report by the Daily Record, should Nancy arrive, his number one transfer target would be Columbus Crew star Diego Rossi, who has previously hinted that he would like to return to European football.

After beginning his career at Peñarol, Rossi really burst onto the scene at LAFC, scoring 59 goals in 121 appearances for the Black and Gold, picking up the 2020 MLS Golden Boot, form that earned him a £4.5m move to Fenerbahçe.

However, after a pretty underwhelming stint in İstanbul, he returned to Major League Soccer in the summer of 2023, and has taken his game to a whole new level under Nancy in Columbus.

To date, the Uruguayan international has scored 45 goals in 101 appearances for the Crew, bagging 16 MLS goals in 2025, comparing favourably to other players across the league.

Goals

16

13th

Shots

91

13th

Shots on target

40

10th

Goals – xG

+2.6

8th*

Big chances missed

13

23rd

Shot creating actions

94

37th

Progressive carries

106

11th

Touches in box

165

5th

Average rating

7.38

7th**

*minimum 15 goals. **forwards only.

Worth reiterating that MLS is a gigantic league with 30 teams, while 882 players made an appearance in the competition this year, so to be in the top ten or even top 20 for the attacking metrics included is impressive.

His tally of 16 goals is noteworthy, albeit it could’ve been even better had he not missed 13 Opta-defined big chances, something that has also been a tendency of Maeda’s game, so perhaps he would be a ready-made replacement.

According to Football Transfers, Rossi’s estimated market value is around £7m, having increased again in recent months after it plateaued in 2024, following his exploits in, according to Global Football Rankings, the tenth-strongest league in the world, a humongous 23 places above the Scottish Premiership.

Speaking ahead of MLS Cup Final in 2023, Carlos Vela, who was Rossi’s teammate in California, labelled the Uruguayan a “really good finisher”, adding that he’s “fast” and “technically good”, while Bob Bradley, his coach at LAFC, adds that the forward is “deceptive” and “such a good player to have” as part of your attack.

Now 27, in a similar way to Maeda, now may well be the time for Rossi to take the next step in his career, aiming to get into Uruguay’s World Cup squad, having not featured for los Charrúas since June 2023.

Unlike in European leagues, MLS’ primary transfer window is in the winter, something that will change in 2027, meaning January moves are a lot more common.

Thus, with Rossi into the final year of his contract in Columbus, he appears to be the perfect fit for a Celtic side lacking attacking firepower, irrespective of whether Maeda departs or not.

Palma 2.0: Celtic's £5m star is going to be on borrowed time under Nancy

With Wilfried Nancy poised to become the new Celtic manager, which “terrific talent” could be on borrowed time and may well become the new Luis Palma?

ByBen Gray Nov 17, 2025

“If you’ve been watching me in the nets, it’s been a frustrating experience because I feel like I’ve had no rhythm whatsoever,” Alyssa Healy says of her patchy form of late

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2025

Alyssa Healy compiled an 84-ball century•Getty Images

Chasing 331 to win. In a World Cup game. With the stands full of noisy opposition supporters. Not the easiest job, unless you are Alyssa Healy. Or Ellyse Perry, for that matter. It required a record-breaking effort with the bat, and Australia did it with a whole over in hand. “That’s a really cool stat”, Healy said afterwards, and will give the batters “a heap of confidence” for the rest of the tournament.The innings Healy played – 142 in 107 balls – was the bedrock of that chase. Her sixth ODI century, but her first since April 2022. She has missed a fair bit of cricket in the interim period but it’s still a gap of 25 innings between centuries, and only her second fifty-plus score of the calendar year. Talk about good timing.”I think I was just trying to contribute. I think it needed somebody to make a hundred to chase down that total. Obviously you’d probably like two to make hundreds just to make it easy, but somebody needed to, if they got set, to cash in and have a good day,” Healy said at the press conference afterwards. “So, yeah, it was probably… it was my day in the end. It hasn’t been my day of late, but it was my day today, which was really cool.Related

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“And to get ourselves, obviously I would have liked to be there a little bit longer and probably see it home a little bit more, but I think to get ourselves in a winning position at that point in time was really cool, and I’ll probably reflect on that a little bit later and be a little bit happy.”N Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma returned excellent economy rates of 4.10 and 5.20 respectively, but the other three frontline bowlers – Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud and Sneh Rana – were expensive. Particularly impressive was Healy’s takedown of the quicks, Amanjot and Gaud, each time she faced them.”It wasn’t a distinct plan as such. Charani was getting actually quite a bit of spin; she was kind of the pick of the bowlers today,” Healy said. “We identified that really well and thought if we can capitalise on some of the pace bowlers, that would be handy knowing that they really have [only] five bowlers in their attack. So, yeah, we thought if we could attack that it’d be great. But it wasn’t really a plan as such, it just panned out that way on the day and I think with the wicket sliding on it probably enabled us to do that.”Coming into the game with scores of 19 (against New Zealand) and 20 (against Pakistan), Healy wasn’t in rhythm, as she confessed. But where rhythm was missing, competitive instincts did the job, especially against Gaud, who had Healy’s number in each of the three ODIs in the bilateral series prior to the World Cup.2:24

Healy: ‘It was my day today’

“If you’ve been watching me in the nets, it’s been a frustrating experience because I feel like I’ve had no rhythm whatsoever, been struggling to find it, and I didn’t really know where it went before I came into the World Cup,” she said. “But I think once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you kind of just lock-in to getting in the contest. Obviously aware that Kranti had got me out a fair bit throughout the ODI series, so an opportunity to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just sort of, I don’t know, have a bit of fun in that regard, I think sort of got me going and that was really a really enjoyable experience. And like I said, it was my day today, and hopefully it continues but if not, I’m sure it’ll be someone else’s, which is cool.”That Australia were chasing 331, “just” 331, was thanks in large measure to Annabel Sutherland, whose 5 for 40 from 9.5 overs took out the middle order and stopped India slightly short of where they might have been after being 192 after 30 overs.”Bellsy’s spell, I think, we got our length right in that department. We bowled a little bit poorly at times and probably gave India an opportunity to cash in whether that be at the start of the over or the end of the over, and I think we couldn’t really create a lot of pressure,” Healy said. “But Alana King and Annabel Sutherland actually created a little bit of a partnership there, created some pressure, created some opportunities. And then Bellsy sort of cashed in at her end. So that was really cool.”And I thought the bowling unit as a whole really hung in there, hung tough and created a whole heap [of pressure] in that back ten to, like I said, restrict them in a way to 330, which is a little bit daunting, but I think did a great job at the back end, which was cool.”

The Padres beat the Giants, 5-1, at home on Tuesday night and one young fan will never forget his experience at Petco Park, but for all the wrong reasons.

We're used to seeing fans run on the field at games and getting laid out by security guards before being hauled off to a jail cell, but what happened late in the Padres' win was something we've never seen before.

This has to be the youngest fan to ever storm a field at a professional sporting event. And check out how many security guards it took to take him down:

Not the best decision there, young fella. It feels like he might be grounded for a little while after that move.

Dayot Upamecano’s future has become one of Europe’s most closely watched contract sagas as Bayern Munich push for an extension while Real Madrid and now Paris Saint-Germain circle for a free transfer. The French defender is enjoying the best season of his career, yet negotiations remain stalled. With major clubs positioning themselves, Bayern face a defining decision over a key piece of Vincent Kompany’s defence.

Upamecano contract saga intensifies as PSG joins Madrid

French international Upamecano’s superb form this season has only added urgency to Bayern’s race against time to secure the defender’s long-term future. The French centre-back has been one of boss Kompany’s most influential performers, recently showcasing his impact in Bayern’s 6-2 victory over Freiburg, where he also scored. But despite Bayern’s desire to tie him down until 2030 or 2031, as reported by the signature remains missing.

This delay has opened the door for Europe’s heavyweights. Madrid, long in the market for a long-term defensive successor, remain strongly interested. PSG, meanwhile, have now emerged as a serious contender, with reporting the French side have joined Madrid in vying for a potential free-transfer move next summer, a scenario Bayern desperately want to avoid.

Bayern’s position is clear, Upa is seen as central to the club’s defensive rebuild under Kompany, and the hierarchy is pushing to finalise terms as soon as possible. However, with his contract running until 2026 and financial constraints limiting Bayern’s flexibility, the situation remains delicate, and increasingly competitive.

AdvertisementAFPUpamecano downplays money motive

In the aftermath of Bayern’s win over Freiburg, Upamecano openly addressed the growing speculation around his future. The Frenchman stressed that finances were not the decisive factor as talks continue.

Upamecano has insisted that he was not driven solely by economic incentives, insisting that sporting conditions would have significant influence. And on the constant speculation surrounding his next steps, he kept things deliberately vague, saying: “I can say this 100 more times, but we’ll see what happens.”

As per the report, those close to the club believe Upamecano is genuinely torn. He is settled in Munich, buoyed by Kompany’s trust, and thriving in a system that suits his strengths. Yet the prospect of joining Real Madrid or returning home to France with PSG is a powerful one, especially with a free transfer potentially offering greater long-term flexibility.

Elite clubs sense rare opportunity as Bayern fight to keep star

Upamecano’s appeal across European giants stems from more than Bayern’s contract struggles. Madrid view the 27-year-old as a potential partner for Eder Militao or replacement long-term option alongside Antonio Rudiger. PSG, meanwhile, consider him a cornerstone for their next cycle, particularly as they continue building a French core under Luis Enrique.

With modern centre-backs commanding fees north of €80m, the possibility, however slim, of a free transfer next summer has alerted every major sporting director in Europe. Bayern are aware of this leverage and recognise they must act quickly to maintain control of the situation.

Behind the scenes, Bayern sporting director Max Eberl is intensifying efforts to finalise an agreement, but financial realities complicate the process. Bayern have already committed major resources to keep Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies and Joshua Kimmich, which has stretched the wage structure and made negotiations with Upamecano more delicate.

The interest from the European elites continues to grow as Real Madrid and PSG have been the most persistent suitors, but Barcelona have also monitored developments as part of their long-term defensive planning.

With each passing week, pressure rises on Bayern to deliver a deal that reflects Upamecano’s value without disrupting their evolving wage model. The risk of losing him on a free would be a massive sporting and financial setback.

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Getty Images SportBayern push for winter breakthrough as rivals wait

Heading into a crucial phase of the season, Bayern hope to accelerate talks before the January window, aiming to remove any uncertainty around Upamecano’s status. An early resolution would give the club clarity as they continue monitoring young defenders in case negotiations collapse.

Madrid and PSG are expected to intensify contact with the player’s representatives if no extension is reached on table quickly. Bayern, however, remain confident that Upamecano’s preference is to stay, provided a mutually acceptable deal is reached.

For now, the defender remains central to Kompany’s plans, and both sides recognise that a long-term extension would bring stability. But unless Bayern can match his expectations without breaking their wage structure, a high-profile transfer battle could define the upcoming summer window.

After six matches in charge, Danny Röhl is already starting to figure out which members of the Rangers squad he can trust, and which he cannot.

So far, the German has won all three Premiership matches in charge, most recently demolishing Dundee 3-0 at Dens, looking to keep that streak going when bottom of the table Livingston visit Ibrox on Saturday.

However, the Gers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League standings, yet to pick up a single point at the mid-way mark of the league phase, and were dumped out of the League Cup semi-finals by Celtic, underlining that there is still plenty of work for Röhl to do.

Having seemingly decided that one of the Light Blues’ many summer signings is not for him, should the German head coach give a “big talent” a chance to stake a claim?

Joe Rothwell's start to life at Rangers

Sporting director Kevin Thelwell has come under serious scrutiny from supporters, given the club’s expensive but underwhelming summer recruitment, with Joe Rothwell among the least popular additions.

The 30-year-old defensive midfielder arrived from Bournemouth for around £400k to plenty of excitement, with Joe Donnohue describing him as “assured, energetic and accomplished”, while Kai Watson asserted that he would be a “very smart signing” given that he’s an “excellent passer and progresser of the ball, exactly what this Rangers midfield needs”.

However, this has certainly not been the case, with the Englishman putting in numerous sluggish and slow performances during the early weeks of the season when the team were massively struggling under Russell Martin.

During August’s 1-1 draw at St Mirren, speaking on Sky Sports commentary, Neil McCann noted that Rothwell looked completely “cooked”, while Kenny Macintyre of BBC Sportsound agreed, exclaiming that “Joe Rothwell… has looked knackered in every game”.

Well, even at this early stage of his tenure, Röhl has seemingly been unimpressed, with Rothwell starting the German’s first match in charge, the 3-0 drubbing in Bergen, but not doing so again since, an unused substitute for all three Premiership matches, as well as the most recent Europa League game against Roma.

So, with Rothwell not in Röhl’s plans, Mohamed Diomandé alongside Nicolas Raskin is the first-choice midfield pairing, which is strong, but that duo cannot play every minute of every game, so should the new manager give his “big talent” an opportunity?

Rangers youngster who deserves more opportunities

A young player Rangers supporters were excited about not so long ago is Bailey Rice, but he might as well be added to Interpol’s missing persons list this season.

After jumping ship from Motherwell’s academy, he made his senior debut at Almondvale against Livingston in February 2023, thereby becoming the second-youngest player to feature for Rangers post-World War II.

Derek Ferguson

1983

Bailey Rice

2023

Tom Walsh

2012

Paul Nsio

2022

Zak Lovelace

2022

Alfie Conn

1968

Archie Stevens

2022

John Fleck

2008

Leon King

2020

Derek Johnstone

1970

Danny Stoney

2013

Alex O’Hara

1973

As the table documents, only Derek Ferguson, against Queen of the South in 1983, debuted for Rangers at a younger age but, at the age of 16 years and 137 days, Rice is the youngest player to feature for the club in a league match.

After arriving on the scene, the teenager started to see regular minutes under Philippe Clement and then Barry Ferguson during the second half of last season, introduced at half time against Manchester United at Old Trafford, before starting the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Club, albeit his big night was curtailed early due to a nasty head injury sustained during a collision with striker Maroan Sannadi.

At that point, he was earning rave reviews, with former Rangers right-back Alan Hutton, speaking on Premier Sports, stating that the youngster was “more than capable” of establishing himself in the first team, adding that he’s “ready for the next step”.

However, this season, since starting a League Cup tie against third-tier Alloa Athletic in August, hooked at half time, Rice has not been seen, an unused substitute for all four Europa League matches, with 12-man benches allowed by UEFA, but yet to feature in a Premiership matchday squad.

The Rangers Journal believe that Rice’s contractual situation is to blame, given that he will be a free agent next summer, hence why the club don’t want to invest time into him, but this isn’t going to convince him to sign a new contract, thereby leaving the player at a crossroads.

Thus, it appears as though the teenager will depart Ibrox next June, but there is still time to salvage his Rangers career, if Röhl is able to prove there is a pathway for him into the first time.

With senior defensive midfield options continuing to fail to impress, namely Rothwell, Rice certainly deserves an opportunity to showcase his obvious talent, bringing to an end this stand-off that is not benefiting anyone.

Well, Blair Malloy has reported on Friday that Rice is currently injured, so his return will have to wait a little while, but he should be seen donning a light blue jersey again soon.

Thelwell can upgrade on Souttar by signing £8m defender for Rangers

With Danny Röhl in need of defensive reinforcements, could Rangers sign an “aggressive” £8m-valued star better than John Souttar and Nasser Djiga?

ByBen Gray Nov 20, 2025

Only 3.4 overs possible on blustery, grey day at Eden Park

Andrew Miller23-Oct-2025New Zealand 38 for 1 (Seifert 23*) vs England – match abandoned England claimed the spoils in their T20I series against New Zealand, after the third and final match at Auckland went the same way as the series opener in Christchurch – lost to the weather as steady early-season rain swept in to curtail the contest after just 3.4 overs.In the limited time available, Tim Seifert made the running for New Zealand with an enterprising knock of 23 not out from 11 balls. He launched his innings with two fours off Luke Wood in the three balls that were possible prior to the evening’s first hour-and-a-half-long delay. Then – after the match resumed as 14 overs a side – he struck two sixes off the extra pace of Brydon Carse, including an outrageous reverse-scoop over fine leg that was well caught in the crowd.Carse did hit back at the other end, removing Tim Robinson for 2 as Jacob Bethell clung on well to a top-edged pull at deep midwicket. Wood then bowled an effective over to the left-handed Rachin Ravindra, finding sharp late movement in the seam-friendly conditions. Ravindra got going with a pulled six off Carse, but moments after Seifert had landed the second of his sixes off the same bowler, the rain returned once more.Despite a planned resumption at 10pm local time – with the match further reduced to eight overs a side – the grim weather returned just as the players were preparing to take the field, and the match was abandoned soon afterwards.It completed an unsatisfactory early-season foray for New Zealand, whose curtain-raising series against Australia at the start of the month had similarly been affected by the weather. They had made the running in the series opener, limiting England’s hard-hitting line-up to 153 for 6 on a seaming wicket at Hagley Oval, but were blown away in the return fixture two days later, losing by 65 runs after England had smashed the ground record with their total of 236 for 4.England chose to bowl first having named an unchanged XI for this decider. Despite the grey weather and unusually short boundaries at Eden Park, they decided to trust the balance that had impressed in Christchurch, with Liam Dawson retained as a second spinner ahead of an extra seam option.New Zealand, meanwhile, made one change – Zak Foulkes coming in for Kyle Jamieson. But in the end, it was all academic, as attention now turns to the ODIs which get underway in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.”It’s very frustrating,” Brook said at the post-match presentation. “The weather hasn’t been ideal. But great for the boys to get some time out there.”It’s a great place to tour, we’ve had an amazing time so far. We’ve got the ODIs coming up and we’re looking forward to it. We’ve got a few big names coming back and hopefully we can keep that momentum in the next few weeks.”Mitchell Santner, New Zealand’s captain, rued his team’s missed opportunities, both with the weather and their own performances: “I guess this time of the year it (rain) is always a potential. It’s always nice to play England, no matter what time of the year you play.”The way we bowled in that first game [was good], especially on a Hagley wicket that did give us a little bit. The second game, we were put under a lot of pressure on a good wicket, so when we come across that again, we’ll have learnings from that.”

Shohei Ohtani faced a scary moment in his start Wednesday when he took a line drive from Rockies third baseman Orlando Arcia square on the leg.

With two runners in scoring position in the fourth inning, Arcia hit a ball right back up the middle as Ohtani simultaneously attempted to get out of the way and make the play. He couldn't get his glove on the ball in time as the contact with his leg made an audible noise. He ran to grab the ball and try to make a play at first but couldn't make the throw in time and he came up hobbling after the play.

The Dodgers' medical staff ran out to check on their superstar as he limped back to the mound. After a brief conversation, Ohtani stayed in the game and finished out the inning. His day on the hill was over after the fourth, though. When done on the mound, he stayed in the game as L.A.'s designated hitter and walked in the fifth, but the Dodgers pinch hit Alex Call for Ohtani in his following at-bat.

There's currently no word on whether the late removal is due to a potential injury to his leg following the come-backer from Arcia. Hopefully the fact that he continued pitching and then took an at-bat is a positive sign.

Nevertheless, the scary moment caused Dodgers fans to collectively hold their breath:

In the four innings thrown, Ohtani let up five earned runs and nine hits while striking out three batters. His ERA for the season moved to 4.61.

Visitors take 10 points to virtually confirm safety going into final round of Championship season

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Sep-2025Essex 325 for 5 (Allison 98, Pepper 54*) drew with WarwickshireEssex virtually secured their Rothesay County Championship Division One status as their match with Warwickshire ended in a rain-ruined draw at Edgbaston. No play was possible due to rain on the final day, meaning that three of the four days were completely blank.Essex collected ten points from the draw, putting them pretty much safe from relegation as two of the teams below them – Yorkshire and Durham – meet in next week’s final round of games. It would now take an extraordinary combination of results and bonus points to drag Essex through the trapdoor with Worcestershire.It was a sodden and sorry scene at Edgbaston as Warwickshire’s home season came to an anti-climatic close. After high winds prevented play on the first day and rain did so on the third, persistent drizzle overnight and on the fourth morning again left conditions unplayable. Essex were denied the chance to resume from the 325 for 5 that they build on the second day.Tom Westley’s side at least took a solid ten points from the draw – a more productive return than from the drawn encounter between these teams in their inaugural Championship meeting at Edgbaston in 1895. After three days of hard work and effort, the points gained from that game, in which, incidentally 21 players made their Championship debuts, were Warwickshire 0 Essex 0.

Joshua Kimmich has long been one of Europe’s most tactically gifted players, but the debate around his best position has followed him for nearly a decade. Now, German legend Philipp Lahm weighs in with clarity. From Bayern Munich’s shifting systems to Germany’s evolving identity, Lahm explains why Kimmich’s versatility is both a blessing and a burden, and where he truly belongs on the pitch.

Lahm explains where Kimmich should really play

At Bayern, Kimmich has spent the last few seasons orchestrating play as a No. 6, the heartbeat of midfield. For Germany, however, recent tournaments have seen him pushed back to right-back, a role he mastered earlier in his career.

Lahm, the one player Kimmich is most often compared to, finally offered a clear and thoughtful answer. Reflecting on his own positional shifts during the 2014 World Cup, Lahm explained the unique circumstances behind his temporary move into midfield.

“My situation was a little different because Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira were both returning from long-term injuries. So I initially played in midfield and then returned to the full-back position because it was better for the team,” said Lahm.

Germany’s balance dictated Lahm’s role at the time. But with Kimmich, Lahm sees no such tactical necessity forcing him back into defence. Instead, he believes Kimmich is strongest where he can influence the game everywhere which is certainly the middle of the pitch.

Speaking at his induction into the German Sports Hall of Fame, Lahm stated: “To be honest, I actually see him as number eight, with a number six next to him. That would be my optimal position for Joshua Kimmich.”

He further dismissed concerns about Kimmich’s positional switches: “Of course, it helps a player if he plays in one position for a longer period of time, also for the safety of the team. But there are always exceptions, and Joshua Kimmich has proven that he can play both positions at a high level.”

Kimmich’s evolution at Germany mirrors Lahm’s career arc, with leadership responsibilities growing each year. Now captain of the national team, he is steering a side in transition, a path Lahm once walked. Both crossed the 100-cap mark, both led their countries through identity shifts, and both became tactical cornerstones for club and country.

AdvertisementAFPWhat connects Kimmich and Lahm

Comparisons between Kimmich and Lahm are inevitable because of the similarities and the overlap in their careers. Lahm retired, Kimmich stepped in. Lahm mastered both full-back and midfield, Kimmich followed the same path.

After Lahm’s retirement in 2017, the Bavarians needed a modern full-back who could also drift into midfield, Kimmich filled the void seamlessly. Over the years, as Bayern shifted toward a more possession-dominant style, he moved into midfield permanently and became the club’s main tempo-setter. This mirrored Lahm’s late-career shift under Pep Guardiola, who famously called Lahm “the most intelligent player I have ever coached.”

The comparison also persists because Kimmich embodies Lahm’s traits with leadership, discipline, tactical discipline, and versatility. He has captained Germany, orchestrated Bayern’s midfield and continues to be the emotional engine of both teams.

But Kimmich brings something different too, a more aggressive passing range, sharper deliveries and a directness Lahm rarely displayed. Their careers are intertwined, but their identities are distinct. Lahm recognises this, praising Kimmich’s adaptability while reminding critics that he is his own player.

Bayern’s evolution: From Lahm’s era to Kimmich’s rise

Lahm’s Bayern era was defined by control, precision and tactical perfection. He was the anchor of a team that won a treble and consistently dominated Europe. His reading of the game was so sharp that Guardiola shifted him from full-back to defensive midfield without hesitation and the transition was flawless. 

Kimmich’s journey followed a different rhythm. Early scepticism about his size, physicality and defensive experience faded quickly as he became one of Europe’s top right-backs from 2016 to 2019. After mastering that role, Bayern’s changing systems moved him into midfield, where he powered the sextuple-winning 2019-20 season.   

As Germany moved into a new era after the retirements of icons such as Lahm, Schweinsteiger, and later Toni Kroos and Ilkay Gundogan, Kimmich stepped into a central role. His performances in Nations League campaigns, Euro qualifiers and friendly fixtures showcased his ability to dominate games with passing range, tactical reading, and relentless work rate. Kimmich’s influence grew further when he was appointed the captain of Germany, becoming the face of a country trying to rebuild its footballing identity after years of inconsistency.

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Getty Images SportKimmich's chance to shine at the 2026 World Cup

Kimmich’s positioning debate is not just tactical — it shapes the identity of both Bayern Munich and Germany. For Bayern, the question is whether he remains the heartbeat of midfield or shifts again depending on future managers. His ability to dictate tempo, orchestrate build-up, and deliver in big matches makes him irreplaceable.

For Germany, the discussion is even more crucial. The national team is rebuilding after several disappointing tournaments, and Kimmich’s exact role will determine the stability of the midfield and the freedom of emerging attackers. The upcoming 2026 World Cup is a huge occasion for Kimmich to step up and bring the trophy to Munich like Lahm. 

Delhi Capitals’ co-owner on the “devastation” of losing out on Pant, their rationale in buying KL Rahul, and the plans for the season ahead

Nagraj Gollapudi27-Nov-20243:16

Rahul or Axar – who will captain DC? Jindal answers

KL Rahul is now a frontrunner to lead DC?It’s a bit premature to talk about the captaincy. Axar Patel has been with the franchise for a very long time and he was the vice-captain for the last cycle, so we don’t know whether it’s going to be Axar or whether it’s going be somebody else. A lot has to happen. I spoke to KL but haven’t met him yet. I know him very well personally, I will understand from him (what he thinks), and, it will boil down to what the coaching group and finally what Kiran (Grandhi, the co-owner) and I want to do. There’s a lot of time for that. What did Rahul say? He’s very happy, very excited to be part of Delhi. He knows me for a long time. He’s a Bangalore (Bengaluru) boy. I own Bengaluru FC (in the Indian Super League), so he’s watched a few games with me. I know his wife Athiya (Shetty) really well. She’s been a close family friend growing up in Mumbai. So he (Rahul) was like, “I just want to play cricket. I just want to get the love and support from the franchise. I just want to get the respect and I know Parth from you, I will get that and just can’t be more excited to play for a friend and let’s make Delhi win. I have never won (IPL). Delhi has never won. Let’s do it together.”Related

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Capitals also tried to get Shreyas Iyer – can you talk about that bid? Going into the auction, obviously we had a budget in mind for a marquee Indian batsman. Shreyas and Rishabh were coming out in the first set and KL was coming out in the second set. We were very clear that between the three of them, we needed to get one. So we went all the way for Shreyas. Frankly, it (Shreyas’ bid) went a bit too high and I think my reaction was very visible on the table (chuckles) – it (the bid) had crossed all budgets.Rishabh came out next. We did do the right-to-match for him at INR 20.25 (crore), but again, the budget went extremely high. And (then) we got KL for well below what we anticipated he would go at – it’s a real blessing in disguise that we got him.What does KL offer you? Stability, number one. He’s an incredible, I would say, technically solid batsman. He will thrive at the Kotla, given the size of the ground. He also gives us flexibility: he can bat anywhere in the top four, and that’s a very rare skill for someone to have. He’s also great senior player to have in the dressing room, a great mind of the game as well. And he’s just a great brand ambassador. He’s super polite, he’s gentle, he’s aggressive when he needs to be. And the most obvious thing he gives you is 450 runs (in a season) guaranteed, which is something he’s done his whole (IPL) career. So that kind of consistency is rare to find.You are right. There’s only one season between 2018 and 2024 where he did not score 500 runs, which was the season he got injured and only managed to play nine games with LSG in 2023. So you are looking to build the batting line-up around him? In terms of responsibility, KL and Axar are going to play a bigger role for the batting, and we are going to be surrounding them with explosive players – whether it’s a Jake Fraser-McGurk, whether it’s a Tristan Stubbs, whether it’s a Harry Brook, whether it’s an Ashutosh Sharma – there is a lot of explosive power in the team. And you need someone to hold the team together, and, in KL we have a batsman who can definitely hold one end up and play on those difficult wickets as well. Because looking at the way Chennai (Super Kings) have lined up, looking at the way some of the other teams are lined up, there are going to be some dust bowls in the IPL. So you definitely need players who can navigate those kinds of situations and also guide some of these younger players on what to do.”Rishabh, we lost him when we didn’t retain him. That was very, very clear”•Associated PressBefore I come to Rishabh Pant, describe your reaction, in your own words, about the Shreyas bid? By the end of it, I think the emotion had taken over strategy. It was madness by the end of it. It would’ve spoiled our whole auction if we had landed either of those players (Shreyas or Pant) at those prices.Why? We wouldn’t have (had) enough money for building the rest of the squad. We would’ve not been able to get the fast bowlers we ended up getting. We wouldn’t have been able to get Jake (Fraser-McGurk) back. We wouldn’t have been able to get a Harry Brook. It would’ve really compromised the balance of our team.The number then you clearly had in your mind before the auction for either of those two was not that high then? No. We were okay to stretch up to INR 22-23 (crore).Whether it be Shreyas, whether it be Pant? Rishabh, we lost him when we didn’t retain him. That was very, very clear. it would’ve been a huge fluke if we got him at INR 21 or 22 (crore) at that level. The minute we didn’t retain him, I knew he was gone. Disappointing slightly, I guess? Oh, devastating. Completely devastating. I love the boy like my own brother. He took a call at the end of the day. We tried our best. He took the decision, and we have to respect it.”KL is a great brand ambassador. He’s super polite, he’s gentle, he’s aggressive when he needs to be”•BCCIIt was clearly not about money? It was just a different philosophy of how he wanted the franchise to operate and how us – the owners – wanted the franchise to operate. That’s what caused it. There’s nothing to do with money. Money’s never been an issue for Rishabh. And money’s never been an issue for us. I guess the three of us (Grandhi, Jindal and Pant) were on different wavelengths. He took a call at the end of it. We tried everything, but he decided eventually that it was time to move on.What was Kiran [Grandhi]’s input on Pant before the final decision was taken? His equation with Rishabh is different from mine. He’s known Rishabh for a lot longer than I have. Kiran was also very clear that we must try to retain him and we can bend as much as possible, but beyond a certain point, he (Pant) needs to understand where we are coming from and if that mutual understanding is missing, then the two have to take a decision.What is the philosophy you mentioned? It means the way the franchise is to run, the decisions of the franchise, those kinds of things. There were certain expectations that he had and there were certain expectations we had. And without going into further details, I can just say that we couldn’t align on these things.Was leadership one of the key talking points? Not really. We gave him some feedback regarding leadership. We told him ways in which he could improve on that, but we were quite clear that we know his ambitions, we know where he wants to go. He’s made it amply clear that his dream and desire is to captain India and that starts with captaining an IPL team.Sticking to the leadership point, you have mentioned Axar, the first player DC retained, is or could be in contention at least to lead. What is it that Axar brings as a leader? See, Axar has been with the franchise for a long period of time. He has been a tremendous player for the franchise. He is probably the best allrounder in the game today in T20s. Obviously, the successor to Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) is Axar in all respects. So he’s been phenomenal for us and he’s done a great job as the vice-captain of the franchise. Whenever Rishabh was not available, whenever Rishabh was injured, Axar did step in and play a big role. He’s a jovial fellow, he keeps the dressing room very light. He’s an uncomplicated character and he’s someone who, I think, can do a great job. So we have to take a decision, but I haven’t even spoken to Axar about it. I haven’t spoken to anybody about it, but he’s definitely someone we consider to read the game very well. He’s definitely someone who keeps the dressing room together, which are good characteristics for a leader.Delhi Capitals contingent featuring Parth Jindal and Kiran Grandhi•BCCIAnd you’ve also got JFM, Tristan Stubbs and Harry Brook – on paper at least, these three can set fireworks if they are in the mood and if they get into the rhythm.. Don’t forget, Ashutosh Sharma. Like you said, those three explosive players are in our team, JFM, Harry Brook and Stubbs. And then you have KL, Axar, and (Abhishek) Porel. So I think (our) batting is very, very strong. We kept in mind the conditions at the Kotla while choosing our team. It looks like 230, 240 is now the par score at the Kotla, so we need to have that kind of firepower to either make that score or chase that score.You also got Mitchell Starc who proved to be a smart and cheap buy compared to the record price he got last auction. No doubt he is going to be DC’s bowling leader? Yeah, of course. We were looking for someone to lead the bowling line-up. He brings together that winning mentality. He’s not only a World Cup winner, he (also) won the IPL last season. He’s very handy with the bat and he’s a very nice person as well. I was hearing Harshit Rana’s interview and Harshit talking about how much he picked up from Mitchell Starc. So he brings a lot of benefits as a cricketer.Mukesh (Kumar), too, really understands the conditions in Delhi. He’s really coming into his own as well as a bowler, both with the new ball and at the death. And then Nattu (T Natarajan), too,is great. We were very keen on (getting) him. I remember last season when Sunrisers (Hyderabad) were playing Delhi at the Kotla – Natarajan was very difficult to get away because of his yorkers, his slower-ball bouncers, his change-ups. From Rishabh to everyone else, they found it very difficult to get him away. So, from that day, we realised that, okay, this is a bowler we need to target. Mohit (Sharma) again, same thing: can bowl at the death, can bowl with a new ball, back-of-the-hand, has changeups. Very experienced bowler. And then you have (Dushmanta) Chameera, who can fill in if anything happens to any of our fast bowlers.

“When you don’t do well in a cycle, like for us, this previous cycle was an unsuccessful cycle: fifth place, ninth place, and fifth place (between 2022-24). No playoffs for Delhi Capitals. So you look forward to a mega auction much more”Parth Jindal believes the mega auction is what makes the IPL unique

DC also have a new and young coaching staff in Venugopal Rao (team director) and Hemang Badani (head coach). Is Sourav Ganguly (director of cricket until 2024) there to help them out or will they be independent, and you are going to allow them the space to grow? It’s up to them really. We are always available. Dada (Ganguly) is always available. I’m always available for whatever that they may require. It’s our team. From what I have seen during the preparations for the auctions, they are very confident in their own abilities, and I feel very confident that they’ll be able to do a very good job for the franchise.So you are looking forward to DC turning a new leaf then? Turning a new leaf is one way of saying it. It’s emotional because you let go of players who have been with you for so many years, but you also get the opportunity to build new relationships and develop new players as well.When you don’t do well in a cycle, like for us, this previous cycle was an unsuccessful cycle: fifth place, ninth place, and fifth place (between 2022-24). No playoffs for Delhi Capitals. So you look forward to a mega auction much more. The previous cycle (2018-21) when we came third, lost in the finals, came top of the table and lost both the Eliminators. (Back then) We were very upset to get into the (2022) mega auction. The dynamics keep changing, but it is what makes the IPL so special, and, I hope that the mega auction continues forever because it’s truly what makes the IPL so unique.