Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney has been named the new England captain by the Three Lions’ manager Roy Hodgson.
The 28-year-old inherits the captaincy from Steven Gerarrd who announced his retirement from national duty after England’s dismal show at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Rooney has previously captained England on two occasions and will double up as club and national team captain after he also got the nod of Louis van Gaal for the Manchester United armband.
The Liverpool-born attacker will lead a much revolutionized England side in their friendly match against Norway next week Wednesday and the 2016 Euro qualifier match against Switzerland five days later.
“Wayne is an obvious choice for his honesty, commitment to the cause, his experience, the fact he has already captained England in the past. Now of course he’s got that responsibility at Manchester United as well. All those factors weighed into my thought process and I’m pleased to be able to say I’ve been able to offer it to him. I had a long conversation with him and he’s prepared to accept the pressures the England captaincy brings. It's important that the player wants to take on that enormous responsibility," said Hodgson.
Rooney was named captain ahead of Chelsea defender Gary Cahill and Manchester City keeper Joe Hart who had all been tipped to succeed Gerarrd. Rooney became the youngest player to feature for the Three Lions when as a 17 year old, he played in a friendly against Australia in February 2003. That record stood for almost three years with Theo Walcott breaking it in May 2006 by 36 days.
He has earned 95 caps for England scoring 40 times, joint fourth with Michael Owen and only 9 goals shy of England’s all time leading goalscorer Sir Bobby Charlton who scored 49 times in 106 appearances. His 95 caps makes him England’s 9th most capped player and is the only active member of the current English squad to feature in the top 20.
Meanwhile Hodgson has included four uncapped players in his 22-man squad for the Norway friendly and the Euro qualifier game against Switzerland. New Arsenal man Calum Chambers, Newcastle's Jack Colback, Villa's Fabian Delph and Tottenham fullback Danny Rose were all included in the squad.
Liverpool quartet, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert all retained their places after featuring for England in Brazil and so did Manchester City duo James Milner and keeper Joe Hart. Hart will be deputized by West Brom's Ben Foster and Southampton's Fraser Forster. Gary Cahill, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck, Oxlade-Chamberlin, Jack Wilshere and John Stones all made it to the lineup. Tottenham wide man Andros Townsend makes a return after missing the World Cup through injury.
Meanwhile Hodgson has included four uncapped players in his 22-man squad for the Norway friendly and the Euro qualifier game against Switzerland. New Arsenal man Calum Chambers, Newcastle's Jack Colback, Villa's Fabian Delph and Tottenham fullback Danny Rose were all included in the squad.
Liverpool quartet, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert all retained their places after featuring for England in Brazil and so did Manchester City duo James Milner and keeper Joe Hart. Hart will be deputized by West Brom's Ben Foster and Southampton's Fraser Forster. Gary Cahill, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck, Oxlade-Chamberlin, Jack Wilshere and John Stones all made it to the lineup. Tottenham wide man Andros Townsend makes a return after missing the World Cup through injury.
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