OT: What's special about being a Captain on a soccer team?

Gamecocks625 · Post by **Gamecocks625** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:35 pm

I just noticed on ESPN that David Beckham stepped down as Captain for the England National Team. But, does that really have any significance for the team? What's the role of a captain anyways?

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 8:55 pm

Mostly ceremonial, i.e. he gets to lift trophies and gets first crack at the girls lingering by the players entrance

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:04 pm

RobVarak wrote:Mostly ceremonial, i.e. he gets to lift trophies and gets first crack at the girls lingering by the players entrance

He gets a very nice arm band too...

I think he represents the team rep to the ref, the team leader and coach on field...Played in HS and on clubs and never saw it actually work that way...

Gamecocks625 · Post by **Gamecocks625** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:06 pm

RobVarak wrote:Mostly ceremonial, i.e. he gets to lift trophies and gets first crack at the girls lingering by the players entrance

Sweet. I bet John Terry is pumped about that

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:47 pm

When I grew up playing the sport it was given to the most skillful guy in the team, a guy with a voice, a leader. I imagine it's still so in most parts of the world although experience and longevity has also has played a large role in assigning a captain today.

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:20 am

Plus, it seems that international squads in soccer are not just thrown together every year from the left overs that didn't make the playoffs, etc. like you see in most major professional sports.

There are international friendlies, etc., that seem to take place pretty often in the off season, so it appears that the players play with each other as a unified team more often than say the Canadian national hockey team.

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:47 am

They also get to read the anti-racism speech.

It's probably less of a factor at this high a level, but the captain traditionally acted as a conduit between the squad and the manager. Nowadays, the captain of the national team does more than his share of media obligations, which is probably enough to send a guy like Beckham over the edge.

As for FM/CM, I also choose a skipper older than 25 with influence +16 or greater.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 1:10 pm

Is Terry such a lock to take the armband from Becks? Why not Stevie G?

Take care,
PK

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 1:24 pm

pk500 wrote:Is Terry such a lock to take the armband from Becks? Why not Stevie G?

Take care,
PK

Id give it to Rooney

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:02 pm

Current odds:
John Terry 1-2 fav
Steven Gerrard 2-1
Gary Neville 5-1
Frank Lampard 8-1
Rio Ferdinand 12-1
Michael Owen 14-1

vanburen · Post by **vanburen** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:13 pm

one of my biggest sports pet peeves is when a goalkeeper has the captain's armband.

if the purpose is to have an onfield leader wear it, how can the keeper do that when he is so often so far from the action? any decent keeper is a defensive leader anyway.

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:51 pm

vanburen wrote:one of my biggest sports pet peeves is when a goalkeeper has the captain's armband.

if the purpose is to have an onfield leader wear it, how can the keeper do that when he is so often so far from the action? any decent keeper is a defensive leader anyway.

Most keepers can tell heads from tails.