Joshua Kimmich dedicates first goal of 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign to late father

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Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich has spoken movingly about the recent death of his father after dedicating his goal in Saturday’s 2-1 Bundesliga victory over Mainz 05 to his memory. The 31-year-old German international celebrated his 14th-minute opener by leaping into the air before pointing toward the heavens.

Kimmich’s father Berthold passed away in October at the age of 57. The midfielder subsequently missed three competitive fixtures before returning to action in last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund.Speaking after Saturday’s victory, Kimmich acknowledged that returning to the football pitch had brought its own 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.”

“I don’t score that many goals anyway,” Kimmich continued. “Naturally, I thought about him immediately after scoring. That’s why it was definitely more emotional than usual.”

Kimmich praises Bayern Munich’s solidarity during difficult period

Kimmich’s personal bereavement comes amid another challenging situation for Bayern, with head coach Vincent Kompany currently unavailable due to illness. The midfielder nevertheless emphasized the strength of the relationships within the squad and coaching staff, suggesting that the club’s current unity has helped everyone navigate the difficulties.

“What we’ve built together over the past few years is very special,” Kimmich explained. “The players, the coaching staff, and everyone around us have a great relationship with one another 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 the sentiment.

“We live the ‘Mia san Mia’ mentality and are a family both on and off the pitch,” Pavlovic said. “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 also acknowledged that Saturday’s victory was hardly Bayern’s most convincing display. Nevertheless, the midfielder felt the team had defended its lead professionally and avoided allowing Mainz a meaningful opportunity to overturn the result.

For Kimmich personally, however, the moment that will endure from the afternoon in Mainz is likely to be the goal celebration honoring his father.

GGFN | Peter Weis