After a decline in form and limited playing time, Harry Maguire has been stripped of the captaincy at Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag, the manager, has a long list of potential replacements for the armband.
While Maguire had been a capable captain in the past, his reduced presence in the team made it clear that a change was necessary.
Bruno Fernandes is the frontrunner to take over as captain, but there are several other candidates being considered.
The decision will ultimately be made by Ten Hag.
Fernandes, who led the team for most of last season, is a strong candidate despite criticism from Gary Neville for his vocal leadership style.
However, Ten Hag may have reservations about making him the long-term captain after his performance in the 7-0 defeat to Liverpool, where he appeared to blame others for the team’s struggles.
Raphael Varane, with his experience and previous captaincy of France, is another option. However, his injury history at United raises concerns about his ability to stay fit.
Lisandro Martinez, Varane’s center-back partner, settled in well at United last season but may be too young and inexperienced for the captaincy.
Casemiro, who made an immediate impact in midfield after joining last summer, is a solid choice but his disciplinary record and age may be drawbacks.
Marcus Rashford, United’s standout performer last season, could be a popular choice with the fans but Ten Hag may prefer to let him focus on scoring goals.
Luke Shaw, highly regarded by the club hierarchy, has shown resilience and loyalty throughout his United career but his injury history may count against him.
Ultimately, Ten Hag will have to weigh the pros and cons of each candidate before making his decision.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
