Future Chelsea Captain

[Hutcho 8,443]

Thinking about it... Matic seems the clear choice. He is relatively young, very good. Big, strong, and in the middle of the park. He would be my choice. Also would hopefully mean he is in our team for a long time.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

I said in the Cahill thread, that this world cup has once again shown that Cahill simply isn't a leader, I would say if Terry leaves at the end of next season and Ivanovic is struggling to play regularly then Courtois or Fabregas possibly Matic will be captain for the 15/16 season. Also in maybe 4 or 5 years years if Zouma becomes word class he could become a future captain for Chelsea and France.

[didierforever 7,349]

how is cesc even in the polls? the club captain should be based on the club's loyalty, longevity, status.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

how is cesc even in the polls? the club captain should be based on the club's loyalty, longevity, status.

no it shouldn't. You pick a captain based on their character and leadership qualities and how respected they are by their fellow teammates, and of course to be captain at a team like Chelsea you have to be a world class player.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I don't really see any future captains in this squad. Be it due to us being spoilt by the leadership that messers Drogba, Terry & Lampard showed or the fact most these guys haven't really been around a long time to justify their claim.. It's just not glaringly obvious.

I see people call for Ivanovic but he can be as ill-tempered as Ramires on his day and that kind of short fuse is poison. He's clashed with Cech a couple of time too.

Azpilicueta is still a fairly young member of the squad in terms of maturity and he doesn't seem to have displayed anything to suggest leadership qualities. Being a fan favourite only gets you so far to be fair.

I wish I could earmark someone but the list of names seems very short to be honest. Nat Chalobah anyone?

[Madmax 9,219]

lol @Liquidator

[didierforever 7,349]

no it shouldn't. You pick a captain based on their character and leadership qualities and how respected they are by their fellow teammates, and of course to be captain at a team like Chelsea you have to be a world class player.

then lets stop all the discussion and make hazard the captain. cos as far as i remember cesc in known to choke with the game on the line and has a huge question mark on his character and general fight. as for respect and importance to the squad, dont think he will be ahead of the likes of cahill and iva and simply should not be.

also, casillas was not RM's first team player last season. puyol was barca's. yet they were the club captains. messi does not get the armband when puyol is absent. xavi does, if not him valdes does. club loyalty and longevity should take a massive precedence in such cases specially when their is not a natural leader like JT in the squad.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I don't see a proper captain here.

My candidates are Oscar, Cahill and Matic. None of them scream captain to me though

[Daniel1980 1,425]

It's very hard to choose. There isn't any obvious candidate. The captaincy should be based on merit and leadership, so we'll have to wait and see who steps up. So far, I don't see leadership qualities in players like Oscar and Hazard, and it isn't clear who will stay in the team long enough to become the captain.

While I don't have any preference, I wouldn't want the captain to be:

1) too young to deserve respect of older players

2) a substitute player.

Ideally, I think the captain should be:

1) WC player

2) someone who's been at least a few years in the club, though it isn't crucial

3) team leader in games

4) 25-32 years old (not too young and not too old; just enough experience)

But obviously, it isn't always possible.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

David Luiz would have been the perfect guy to take over as captain if he had not been sold

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Cahill has had a great season, but he's no leader, in fact, he needs a leader besides him to be at his best.

Iva tends to lose it too easily, same with Rami.

We don't know if Cech will be a starter and Courtois has not yet put on a Chelsea shirt.

Mikel might not be here next season.

Oscar is way too shy and his English is still an issue.

Cesc...

Salah is too young and has not been at the club for long. Same with Schurrle to a lesser extent.

Hazard is just not the leader type and his English is far from perfect as well.

Willian has not been here long and still can't speak English.

Torres...lol.

Azpi and Matic seem like the best choices, but even them are far from ideal captain material. Maybe it is the influence of having players like JT, Drogba and Cech that has spoiled us, but I just don't see any perfect captain for us from the current squad.

[Madmax 9,219]

Cahill has had a great season, but he's no leader, in fact, he needs a leader besides him to be at his best.

Iva tends to lose it too easily, same with Rami.

We don't know if Cech will be a starter and Courtois has not yet put on a Chelsea shirt.

Mikel might not be here next season.

Oscar is way too shy and his English is still an issue.

Cesc...

Salah is too young and has not been at the club for long. Same with Schurrle to a lesser extent.

Hazard is just not the leader type and his English is far from perfect as well.

Willian has not been here long and still can't speak English.

Torres...lol.

Azpi and Matic seem like the best choices, but even them are far from ideal captain material. Maybe it is the influence of having players like JT, Drogba and Cech that has spoiled us, but I just don't see any perfect captain for us from the current squad.

Costa

[Daniel1980 1,425]

club loyalty and longevity should take a massive precedence in such cases specially when their is not a natural leader like JT in the squad.

There have been precedents of players granted the captaincy just after one season in the club if they impressed enough. A recent example: Montolivo. Because of other players' injuries, he put on the armband after only a few months in the team and he became AC Milan's full-time captain after only one season, ahead of the players who were in the team far longer than him. Montolivo used to be Fiorentina's captain, by the way.

So while longevity should matter, it isn't crucial. Merit is more important.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Courtois; Azpi, Cahill, ?, Luis; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Costa.

The most likely captains there are Azpi, simply because of his attitude and Hazard because he's the best player.

Unlikely but still possible is Fabregas. He's in the right age bracket, and has been captain before.

[iseah100 5,612]

Courtois; Azpi, Cahill, ?, Luis; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Costa.

The most likely captains there are Azpi, simply because of his attitude and Hazard because he's the best player.

Unlikely but still possible is Fabregas. He's in the right age bracket, and has been captain before.

I don't think Hazard would. Just not the right type. Azpi hasn't been here long enough. For me, I think Cahill. I know a bunch of you don't think he's a leader, but all this time with JT, I think he could step up after he gets the armband. Plus he's English and won the CL with us. I think he'd be the best.

[Strike 7,492]

the club and Mourinho value long serving players for the captain's role. the longest serving player around the first team (assuming courtois replaces cech) will be Ivanovic, he is a bit temperamental. I remember the game against West Brom last season. after Ivanovic it's Cahill, so I'll say Cahill for the short term when JT leaves.

but it's weird to think Cahill is one of the longest serving players at the club. he's only been here 2 years

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Costa

Don't count your eggs...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

the club and Mourinho value long serving players for the captain's role. the longest serving player around the first team (assuming courtois replaces cech) will be Ivanovic, he is a bit temperamental. I remember the game against West Brom last season. after Ivanovic it's Cahill, so I'll say Cahill for the short term when JT leaves.

but it's weird to think Cahill is one of the longest serving players at the club. he's only been here 2 years

No, that's Mikel.

[KevinAshburner 1,270]

MY TOP 3 CAPTAINS IN ORDER: THAT I WOULD LIKE AS CAPTAIN OF CHELSEA

1. GARY CAHILL
2. EDEN HAZARD
3. CESC FABREGAS

[manpe 10,861]

The only captain I see in that list of names is Cech, but his future is in doubt. Other than him, I see nobody who wouldn't just be someone wearing an armband. Once all of the "old guard" is gone, we will realize how truly blessed we were with a team full of leaders and fighters. We will probably have more talent, skill and finesse, but no leadership, not like this. In fact it showed sometimes last season.