Borussia Dortmund club captain Sebastian Kehl has this week announced that he will be stepping down from the captaincy ahead of his last season with the German giants before his retirement, and has also vowed to support whichever team mate will become his successor.
With a brilliant 6 years wearing the armband of the fantastic football club, 34 year old Kehl lead Dortmund to 2 Bundesliga titles and a DFB Pokal, has called time as captain.
"I've decided to finish being captain from right now," Kehl told the club's official website. "I already told this decision to the club and the coach at the end of the last season. I was very proud to be captain of Borussia Dortmund, I was very pleased about it, it was a great responsibility for me.
"But responsibility also means for me to care for the team and for the club. And that is how I have always lived and understood my role.
"Now I want to deliver the baton, that makes absolute sense for me and it's also sustainable. Now there will be the possibility to help my follower as captain and to support him with all my experience from my last years. I will try to give my best in the last season of my career and to play as much as possible," he added. "My role on and off the pitch will not change.
"The greatest thing would be to win a title at the end, that would be something very special for me, and I also wish this for my follower as captain because it would be a perfect introduction for him."
The question now for the German giants is who will take the responsibility for Borussia Dortmund, a side who will want to win as many trophies as possible, and a better challenge for the Bundesliga title against Bayern Munich will be on the agenda this campaign. Someone is needed to guide and lead them to success domestically and in Europe for the years to come, so a decision needs to be made.
Roman Weidenfeller's name has been mentioned on numerous occasions, but the obvious favourite is German centre-back and World Cup Winner Mats Hummels, a powerful leader from the back and a fan favourite for Jurgen Klopp's side. Linked with a move to England and has been throughout the summer break, but it seems more and more likely as the weeks go by that the Dortmund star will remain, and you can't see past Hummels to take charge on the field. However a final decision is yet to be made by the club themselves.