Long before he became one of football’s most intelligent midfielders, Joshua Kimmich was a football-obsessed kid spending hours kicking a ball against his family’s garage door. His relentless drive to improve was evident from an early age, but talent alone was not enough. Behind every training session, academy trial, and match stood his parents, Anja and Berthold Kimmich, who played a crucial role in nurturing his ambitions.

From driving him to games across Germany to supporting him through the highs and lows of his development, they helped lay the foundation for the player he would become. As Kimmich grew into a Bundesliga star, a Champions League winner, and a leader for Germany, his parents remained an important part of his journey. So, who are Anja and Berthold Kimmich, and how did they help shape one of football’s most respected figures?

Who are Joshua Kimmich’s parents?

Joshua Kimmich was born on February 8, 1995, in Germany to Berthold and Anja Kimmich. From the very beginning, his parents played a central role in his development, helping him grow not only into an elite footballer but also into the disciplined and grounded individual he is today.

His father, Berthold, a former amateur footballer, was Joshua’s first mentor. Recognizing his son’s passion for the game, he transformed the family’s garden into a makeshift training ground where Joshua could spend countless hours honing his skills. Berthold’s commitment extended far beyond the backyard. He regularly drove his son on the 110-kilometer journey to the VfB Stuttgart academy, ensuring that Joshua had every opportunity to pursue his dream.

Meanwhile, Anja provided the stability and support that kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes. While little is publicly known about her professional career, she played a vital role in Joshua’s upbringing, balancing family responsibilities with support for his football ambitions and education. Her encouragement helped create an environment where he could focus on both his personal and athletic development.

Kimmich grew up in the small village of Bösingen, home to fewer than 2,000 residents and situated between the Black Forest and Stuttgart. Despite the limited football infrastructure available in the area, his love for the game never wavered. With few places to play, Joshua and his friends often turned the family property into their own football ground. Their enthusiasm occasionally came at a cost, with footballs regularly finding their way through windows. Yet his parents remained patient, embracing the chaos that came with raising a football-obsessed child.

Where did Berthold Kimmich and Anja Kimmich meet? 

There is little publicly available information about how Berthold and Anja Kimmich first met, as they have largely kept their personal lives away from the public eye. What is known is that they built a close-knit family and raised two children, Joshua and his sister, Deborah Kimmich.

Throughout Joshua’s journey, his parents remained deeply involved in supporting his ambitions. From providing access to training opportunities to making countless behind-the-scenes sacrifices, they played a significant role in helping him pursue a professional football career. Their commitment ensured that Joshua had the resources, encouragement, and environment needed to develop his talent from a young age.

Despite their son’s global fame, Berthold and Anja have maintained a low profile, preferring to stay out of the spotlight. Nevertheless, they have never shied away from supporting Joshua’s career and have remained among his most steadfast supporters throughout his rise in football.

What ethnicity are Joshua Kimmich’s parents?

Joshua Kimmich’s family has deep roots in Germany, particularly in the Swabian region of Baden-Württemberg. He was raised in the small village of Bösingen, a close-knit community of roughly 1,700 residents located between the Black Forest and Stuttgart.

Although opportunities for organized football were limited in such a small town, Kimmich’s parents and grandfather made sure his passion for the game never lacked support. They encouraged his development from an early age, helping him find training opportunities and giving him every opportunity to improve his skills. Their commitment played a crucial role in nurturing a young boy who would eventually become one of Germany’s finest midfielders.

Growing up in Bösingen also helped shape Kimmich’s grounded personality. Despite the village’s modest size and limited football infrastructure, his family’s unwavering support ensured that he could pursue his dream without feeling restricted by his surroundings.

Joshua Kimmich’s relationship with his parents

Joshua Kimmich’s football journey was not shaped by his parents alone. His grandfather also played a significant role in supporting his dream. In an essay for The Players’ Tribune, Kimmich recalled how one of the most important moments of his childhood came when the makeshift football field where he and his friends played was lost after a neighbor purchased the land.

Reflecting on the experience, Kimmich wrote: “I was still a little boy, so I didn’t quite understand how it didn’t just belong to us. I was so angry, so upset. That was our pitch. Those were our stands.” He watched as construction crews transformed the area into a garden and an artificial lake, bringing an end to countless hours of football memories.

Fortunately, his grandfather stepped in. Living on the other side of town, he had access to another unused plot of land, which Joshua and his friends used as their new football ground. Thanks to that gesture, Kimmich’s development continued uninterrupted, giving him another place to practice and nurture his growing love for the game.

Not long afterward, Kimmich began playing for a local youth team and quickly caught the attention of scouts. One defining moment came when his side faced VfB Stuttgart’s youth team. “I scored three goals against them and we won 3–2,” he recalled. The performance impressed Stuttgart’s coaches, who soon approached his parents about bringing him into their academy system.

However, Berthold and Anja Kimmich were in no rush. At just eight years old, Joshua was already thriving in his current environment, and the Stuttgart academy was roughly an hour away from home. His parents prioritized his overall development rather than pushing him into elite football at the earliest opportunity.

As Kimmich continued to excel, Stuttgart remained persistent. Over the following years, the club repeatedly contacted his family and invited them to visit its facilities. Yet Berthold remained firm. As Kimmich remembered, his father would often say, “If they want to take something from us, then they can come to us.”

Eventually, Stuttgart’s youth coach did exactly that, visiting the family personally. Kimmich joined the academy, but the demanding travel schedule soon began affecting both his studies and his rest. When Stuttgart later offered him a full-time place at the academy, his parents recognized the opportunity and supported the move.

The decision was an emotional one. Looking back on the day he left home, Kimmich wrote: “My mom held back tears when she hugged me — I don’t think she wanted me to see her cry. I tried to do the same when I hugged my dad and my sister.”

The story highlights the sacrifices made not only by Joshua but by his entire family. From his grandfather providing a place to play to his parents carefully guiding each step of his development, their unwavering support helped lay the foundation for one of Germany’s most accomplished footballers.