Freddie Tuilagi of Leicester races away with the ball during the Heineken Cup match between Beziers and Leicester Tigers at Stade de la Mediterranee, Beziers, France on December 8, 2002.
David Rogers
© 2002 Getty Images
Kronfeld will also lead the side while regualr skipper Martin Johnson is on England duty at the World Cup.
"I hope that the players will respond well to what I have to do and how I play. I hope they'll get behind me and make my job easier," Kronfeld told the Tigers' official website.
"I'll never be a Johnno but I've got a reasonably relaxed approach - I want to see the boys smile and enjoy the rugby and when we have to be serious we'll switch right into it. That's always been my style of play."
The former All Black will be the first overseas players to captain the Tigers since fellow Kiwi back-rower Colin Martin, who led Leicester from 1960-63.
Leicester will play in Pool One of the Heineken Cup next year along side Ulster, Stade Francais and the Ebbw Vale / Newport region.
