“Joshua Kimmich’s at a level where he could play for anyone” – former Bayern Munich star Xabi Alonso
Former Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso has heaped praise on ex-teammate Joshua Kimmich following the club’s treble success in 2019/20, saying he could “play for any team in the world”.
Alonso, 38, arrived in Munich in August 2014 and spent three years with the Reds - the latter two alongside Kimmich - before retiring from the game in summer 2017.
He is now coach of the reserves at hometown club Real Sociedad in Spain, but retains strong ties to Bavarian capital, where he won three Bundesliga titles and the DFB Cup.
Watch: Alonso's top 5 Bundesliga goals!
“I’ve still got a lot of friends there,” the Spaniard said in an interview with German broadsheet Süddeutsche Zeitung. “When the [Champions League finals] tournament started we could all see the incredible run the team were on and we thought ‘they can win it’.”
Kimmich was an integral part of the team that ultimately fulfilled that objective, switching from his preferred position in central midfield to fill in for the injured Benjamin Pavard at right-back.
In addition to performing his defensive duties with characteristic bite, the 25-year-old scored one and grabbed an assist in the 8-2 quarter-final thrashing of Barcelona – a result Alonso described as being “in the category of ‘incomprehensible’. I don’t just mean the margin of victory, but Bayern’s superiority, their dominance. And to do it in such an important match, too.”
Kimmich registered another two assists in the 3-0 victory over Lyon in the last four, and teed up Kingsley Coman to score the decisive winner over Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
All of which left Alonso, like countless others around the world, seriously impressed by the Germany international’s displays.
“He’s learned incredibly quickly," he said. "He’s found his role in the team and has matured. He’s now at a level where he could play for any team in the world.”
Watch: All of Kimmich's goals and assists in 2019/20
While Kimmich could undoubtedly walk into any side – Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho recently added his name to the player’s ever-growing list of admirers – he is currently on a well-deserved break, before resuming pre-season training with Bayern ahead of their opening 2020/21 Bundesliga fixture at home to Schalke on 18 September.
Related news
What can be decided on Matchday 31?
Bayern are already champions, but there are still European places up for grabs and the relegation battle could come down to the wire...
Where does Bayern’s comeback rank?
Fighting back to win from 3-0 down at half-time takes some doing. But where does it rank in Bundesliga history?
Who is Bara Sapoko Ndiaye?
After playing against Bayern Munich last summer, the Senegalese attacking midfielder became the latest teenager to play for Germany's record champions.
Bayern stage remarkable comeback to beat Mainz
Vincent Kompany's men were 3-0 down at half-time, but roared back after the break to clinch a memorably victory.
Who's in the race for Europe?
With just four games left of the 2025/26 campaign, the race for the European spots is heating up. We run the rule over the contenders...
Kane racing away atop scoring charts
The Bayern striker is setting a mean pace for others to follow in the second half of 2025/26...