Next England Captain? We’ve Found The Man For The Job….

Some of England’s greatest ever football players have had the privilege of wearing the symbolic armband which marks them out as the leader of their nation on the football field. Few things in football can carry as much weight in expectation on the arm of the beholder, which is why the likes of Bobby Moore, Bryan Robson, Alan Shearer and David Beckham have been given the massive responsibility.

However, John Terry has for the second time been stripped of the England captaincy with the Football Association stating that they will not have the Chelsea defender as the captain of the country whilst allegations of racial abuse are being investigated in court. It leaves England captain-less as the Euro 2012 competition approaches, meaning Fabio Capello has another big decision placed firmly in front of him.

Often the role of the captain is over-analysed, and other than a coin toss and hand-shake at the start of every game, there are few formal responsibilities they must live up to. However, in a nation which holds as much expectation as England does, the captain is a rather crucial part of the team and it is therefore important to fill the role appropriately – with the right man for the job.

Rio Ferdinand has ruled himself out of the race, and while the favorites will most certainly be the two men who have already occupied the armband before and accumulated around 179 caps for their country between them – Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard – there is another central midfielder who should at the very least be seriously considered.

Scott Parker may not have Premier League winners medals or a Champions League triumph to his name like his competitors, but that doesn’t make him any less of a captain. He may not have the vast international experience of Lampard and Gerrard, but none of them have ever reached the latter stages of a competition like the Euro’s before, so it would be relatively new for all if it were to happen. What needs to be looked at is captain credentials; does Parker have the passion, bravery, inspiration and commitment to lead a team of Englishmen? I believe he does.

He has been in many a physical and mental battle before on the football field, and on every occasion, he has come out of those battles with a substantial amount of credit. When he was captain of West Ham United, a half time team talk which he delivered was described by Carlton Cole as “inspirational,” saying: “Scott was in the zone – I’ve never seen him like that. If you were there you would have had a tear in your eye.” (source: BBC)

His performances on the field are equally impressive, never lacking in tenacity and the required drive to encourage those around him. He is a crucial member of the Tottenham team which this season have risen above all expectations to even challenge for the title. It would be fair to say that without Parker in that team, Spurs would not be in the position they are now. He is a tireless worker, a model professional who is hard working, highly respected, and more importantly, controversy free.

He has risen in prominence in the England side as of late, showcasing Capello’s trust in the 31 year-old who is seemingly in the peak of his career. Whilst Lampard and Gerrard would be reliable choices for captain of England, Parker offers a satisfying breath of fresh air to the team in both explicit on field talent and the subtle psychological boost he could give.

He is trusted, well liked and certainly capable of fulfilling the role of captain of England, and it would be intriguing to see him given a chance by Capello to proudly lead out his country and join the list of illustrious names who have also had the honour.

Who do you think should be the next England captain? Leave your choice in the comments section below…

Thanks to DBSfootball for submitting this guest blog post