Captain (football)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The team captain of a football team, sometimes known as the skipper, is a team member chosen to be the on-pitch leader of the team: it is often one of the older or more experienced members of the squad, or a player that can heavily influence a game. The team captain is usually identified by the wearing of an armband.
One of the official functions of the captain is to participate in the coin toss prior to kick-off (for choice of ends and to determine who kicks off first) and prior to a penalty shootout. Referees will sometimes talk to the captain of a side about the side's general behaviour, but this varies depending on the officiating style of the referee.
In youth or recreational football, the captain often takes on duties that would at a higher level be delegated to the manager. The captain generally provides a rallying point for the team: if morale is low, it is the captain who will be looked to gee up the side.
A club captain is usually appointed for a season: if unavailable or not selected for a particular game, the appointed vice-captain or a team captain will be appointed to perform a similar role. The captain will often take a particular role in media relations on behalf of the team.
Selection of a captain is an important choice for the manager of a football club—he will be the manager's correspondent on the pitch and the relationship between a manager and a captain is a crucial one. Likewise it is also important the captain has a good rapport with the club's supporters. Crucial qualities of a club captain include determination and stamina, being able to get on with everybody, and being an intelligent, tactically minded player. Club captains can also take on certain responsibilities within the playing staff, such as organising morale-boosting events and looking after younger players.
[edit] World Cup winning captains
- 1930 - José Nasazzi (Uruguay)
- 1934 - Giampiero Combi (Italy)
- 1938 - Giuseppe Meazza (Italy)
- 1950 - Obdulio Varela (Uruguay)
- 1954 - Fritz Walter (West Germany)
- 1958 - Hilderaldo Bellini (Brazil)
- 1962 - Mauro (Brazil)
- 1966 - Bobby Moore (England)
- 1970 - Carlos Alberto (Brazil)
- 1974 - Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany)
- 1978 - Daniel Passarella (Argentina)
- 1982 - Dino Zoff (Italy)
- 1986 - Diego Maradona (Argentina)
- 1990 - Lothar Matthäus (West Germany)
- 1994 - Dunga (Brazil)
- 1998 - Didier Deschamps (France)
- 2002 - Cafu (Brazil)
- 2006 - Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
