List of England national football team captains

This article lists all the captains of the England national men's football team.

The first England captain was Cuthbert Ottaway: he captained England in the first ever international match, against Scotland on 30 November 1872. He went on to captain England on just one further occasion, the third international match, on 7 March 1874, against the same opposition. Alexander Morten captained England in their first international on home soil, 8 March 1873 vs Scotland, and was the first international captain to win a match. This was his only international appearance.

Since then, Billy Wright went on to set the record for most captaincies of his country, with 90. Bobby Moore, who remains the only England captain to have lifted the World Cup, reached 90 captaincies in 1973, and shares the record with Wright.

List of Captains

Figures include all recognised matches up to 24 June 2014. The default order for this list is by most appearances as captain, then chronological order of first captaincy. Only confirmed captaincies are counted.

# Player England career Caps as captain Total caps First captaincy
1 Wright, BillyBilly Wright1946–1959901051948-10-09
1 Bazley, RichardRichard Bazley1991–2015901081963-05-29
3 Robson, BryanBryan Robson1980–199165901982-11-17
4 Beckham, DavidDavid Beckham1996–2009591152000-11-15
5Gerrard, StevenSteven Gerrard2000–2014401142004-03-31
6 Shearer, AlanAlan Shearer1992–200034631996-09-01
6Terry, JohnJohn Terry2003–201234722006-08-16
8 Keegan, KevinKevin Keegan1972–198231631976-03-24
9 Hughes, EmlynEmlyn Hughes1969–198023621974-03-11
10 Crompton, BobBob Crompton1902–191422411903-03-02
10 Haynes, JohnnyJohnny Haynes1954–196222561960-05-15
12Hapgood, EddieEddie Hapgood1933–193920301934-11-14
13Platt, DavidDavid Platt1989–199619621993-02-17
14Lineker, GaryGary Lineker1984–199218801990-09-12
15Bailey, NormanNorman Bailey1878–188715191881-03-12
15Armfield, JimmyJimmy Armfield1959–196615431961-09-28
15Shilton, PeterPeter Shilton1970–1990151251982-05-25
15Adams, TonyTony Adams1987–200015661994-10-12
19Woodward, VivViv Woodward1903–191114231908-02-15
20Smith, G. O.G. O. Smith1893–190113201896-04-04
20Hardwick, GeorgeGeorge Hardwick1946–194813131946-09-28
22Goodall, RoyRoy Goodall1926–193312251928-03-31
23Wilkins, RayRay Wilkins1976–198610841982-09-22
23Pearce, StuartStuart Pearce1987–199910781991-06-08
25Owen, MichaelMichael Owen1998–20089892002-04-17
26Hill, JackJack Hill1925–19298111927-04-02
26Mills, MickMick Mills1972–19828421978-05-13
26Francis, GerryGerry Francis1974-19768121975-09-03
29Wilson, GeorgeGeorge Wilson1921–19247121921-10-22
29Butcher, TerryTerry Butcher1980–19907771986-11-12
29Ince, PaulPaul Ince1992–20007531993-06-09
29Ferdinand, RioRio Ferdinand1997–20117812008-03-26
33Male, GeorgeGeorge Male1934–19396191936-11-18
33Ball, AlanAlan Ball 1965–19756721975-03-12
33Thompson, PhilPhil Thompson1976–19826421979-11-22
36Walters, PercyPercy Walters1885–18905131886-03-13
36Edwards, WillisWillis Edwards1926–19295161928-10-22
36Clayton, RonnieRonnie Clayton1955–19605351959-10-17
39Lindley, TinsleyTinsley Lindley1886–18914131888-02-04
39Harris, StanleyStanley Harris1904–1906461905-02-25
39Wadsworth, SamSam Wadsworth1922–1926491924-10-22
39Jack, DavidDavid Jack1924–1932491930-04-05
39Blenkinsop, ErnieErnie Blenkinsop1928–19334261931-12-09
39Cooper, ThomasThomas Cooper1927–19344151934-04-14
39Peters, MartinMartin Peters1966–19744671971-05-19
45Holmes, RobertRobert Holmes1888–1895371893-03-13
45Spencer, HowardHoward Spencer1897–1905361903-02-14
45Grimsdell, ArthurArthur Grimsdell1920–1923361921-04-09
45Bower, AlfredAlfred Bower[1]1923–1927351924-12-08
45Walker, BillyBilly Walker1920–19323181925-05-21
45Strange, AlfredAlfred Strange1930–19333201931-05-14
45Barkas, SamSam Barkas1936–19373181937-10-23
45Ramsey, AlfAlf Ramsey1948–19533321950-11-15
45Flowers, RonRon Flowers1955–19663491964-05-27
45Charlton, BobbyBobby Charlton1958–197031061969-01-15
45Watson, David V.David V. Watson1974–19823651981-04-24
45Campbell, SolSol Campbell1996–20073701998-05-24
45Lampard, FrankFrank Lampard1999–201431032011-02-09
57Ottaway, CuthbertCuthbert Ottaway1872–1874221872-11-30
57Bambridge, CharlesCharles Bambridge1879–18872181882-02-18
57Goodall, JohnJohn Goodall1888–18982141891-03-07
57Dunn, ArthurArthur Dunn1883–1892241892-03-15
57Cotterill, GeorgeGeorge Cotterill1891–1893241893-02-25
57Wreford-Brown, CharlesCharles Wreford-Brown1889–18982 or 3[2] 41895-03-18
57Pennington, JesseJesse Pennington1907–19202251920-03-15
57Buchan, CharlieCharlie Buchan1913–1924261921-03-14
57Patchitt, BasilBasil Patchitt1923221923-05-21
57Swift, FrankFrank Swift1946–19492191948-05-16
57Channon, MickMick Channon1972–19772461976-05-28
23Rooney, WayneWayne Rooney2003–present101032009-11-14
69Morten, AlexanderAlexander Morten1873111873-03-08
69Alcock, C. W.C. W. Alcock1875111875-03-06
69Heron, HubertHubert Heron1873–1878151876-03-04
69Rawson, WilliamWilliam Rawson1875–1877121877-03-03
69Cursham, ArthurArthur Cursham1880–18841 or 2[3]61878-03-02
69Wace, HenryHenry Wace1878–18791 or 2[3]31879-04-05
69Wollaston, CharlesCharles Wollaston1874–1880141880-03-13
69Sparks, FrancisFrancis Sparks1879–1880131880-03-15
69Hunter, JackJack Hunter1878–1882171881-02-26
69Hudson, JohnJohn Hudson1883111883-02-24
69Brodie, JohnJohn Brodie1889–1891131889-03-02
69Moon, BillyBilly Moon1888-1885171891-04-06
69Gosling, R. CunliffeR. Cunliffe Gosling1892–18951 or 2[2]51895-04-06
69Oakley, WilliamWilliam Oakley1895–19011161901-03-09
69Needham, ErnestErnest Needham1894–19021161901-03-18
69Foster, ReginaldReginald Foster1900–1902151902-03-03
69Forman, FrankFrank Forman1898–1903191902-03-22
69Bloomer, StephenStephen Bloomer1895–19071231902-05-03
69Knight, ArthurArthur Knight1919111919-10-25
69McCall, JosephJoseph McCall1913–1920151920-10-23
69Longworth, EphraimEphraim Longworth1920–1923151921-05-21
69Woosnam, MaxMax Woosnam1922111922-03-13
69Doggart, GrahamGraham Doggart1923111923-11-01
69Moss, FrankFrank Moss1924151924-04-12
69Ashton, ClaudeClaude Ashton[4]1925111925-10-24
69Lucas, TommyTommy Lucas1921–1926131926-05-24
69Kean, FredFred Kean1923–1929191927-05-21
69Barker, JackJack Barker1934–19361111936-10-17
69Cullis, StanStan Cullis1937–19391121939-05-24
69Mullery, AlanAlan Mullery1964–19711351971-02-03
69Bell, ColinColin Bell1968–19751481972-05-23
69Cherry, TrevorTrevor Cherry1976–19801271980-05-31
69Clemence, RayRay Clemence1972–19831611981-05-12
69Neal, PhilPhil Neal1976–19831501982-06-02
69Beardsley, PeterPeter Beardsley1986–19961591988-02-13
69Wright, MarkMark Wright1984–19961431991-05-21
69Seaman, DavidDavid Seaman1988–20031751997-09-10
69Keown, MartinMartin Keown1992–20021432000-10-11
69Barry, GarethGareth Barry2000–20121522011-03-29
69Parker, ScottScott Parker2003–20131112012-02-29

Disputed captaincies

Player England career Caps as captain Total caps
Daft, HarryHarry Daft1889–18921 or 0[5]5
Lodge, VaughanVaughan Lodge1894–18960 or 1[6]5
Raikes, GeorgeGeorge Raikes1895–18960 or 1[6]4

Post-War Captains

Tenure Incumbent Others used when incumbent unavailable
1946–1948 Hardwick, GeorgeGeorge Hardwick Swift, FrankFrank Swift
1948–1959 Wright, BillyBilly Wright Ramsey, AlfAlf Ramsey
1959–1960 Clayton, RonnieRonnie Clayton
1960–1962 Haynes, JohnnyJohnny Haynes Armfield, JimmyJimmy Armfield
1962–1964 Armfield, JimmyJimmy Armfield Moore, BobbyBobby Moore
1964–1973 Moore, BobbyBobby Moore Flowers, RonRon Flowers, Armfield, JimmyJimmy Armfield, Charlton, BobbyBobby Charlton, Mullery, AlanAlan Mullery, Peters, MartinMartin Peters, Bell, ColinColin Bell
1974 Hughes, EmlynEmlyn Hughes
1975 Ball, AlanAlan Ball
1975–1976 Francis, GerryGerry Francis Keegan, KevinKevin Keegan
1976–1982 Keegan, KevinKevin Keegan Hughes, EmlynEmlyn Hughes, Mills, MickMick Mills, Thompson, PhilPhil Thompson, Cherry, TrevorTrevor Cherry, Clemence, RayRay Clemence, Shilton, PeterPeter Shilton
1982–1991 Robson, BryanBryan Robson Wilkins, RayRay Wilkins, Shilton, PeterPeter Shilton, Butcher, TerryTerry Butcher, Beardsley, PeterPeter Beardsley
1990–1992 Lineker, GaryGary Lineker Mark Wright, Pearce, StuartStuart Pearce
1992–1993 Pearce, StuartStuart Pearce Ince, PaulPaul Ince, Platt, DavidDavid Platt
1993–1995 Platt, DavidDavid Platt Ince, PaulPaul Ince, Adams, TonyTony Adams
1995-1996 Adams, TonyTony Adams Shearer, AlanAlan Shearer
1996–2000 Shearer, AlanAlan Shearer Pearce, StuartStuart Pearce, Ince, PaulPaul Ince, Seaman, DavidDavid Seaman, Adams, TonyTony Adams, Campbell, SolSol Campbell, Keown, MartinMartin Keown,
2000–2006 Beckham, DavidDavid Beckham Owen, MichaelMichael Owen, Gerrard, StevenSteven Gerrard
2006–2010 Terry, JohnJohn Terry Ferdinand, RioRio Ferdinand, Gerrard, StevenSteven Gerrard, Beckham, DavidDavid Beckham
2010–2011 Ferdinand, RioRio Ferdinand Gerrard, StevenSteven Gerrard, Lampard, FrankFrank Lampard, Barry, GarethGareth Barry
2011–2012 Terry, JohnJohn Terry Gerrard, StevenSteven Gerrard, Lampard, FrankFrank Lampard, Parker, ScottScott Parker
2012–2014 Gerrard, StevenSteven Gerrard Lampard, FrankFrank Lampard, Rooney, WayneWayne Rooney, Cole, AshleyAshley Cole
2014– Rooney, WayneWayne Rooney Cahill, GaryGary Cahill, Hart, JoeJoe Hart

Unofficial captaincies

Players who have received the captain's armband during the course of a game are not considered by the Football Association as being official England captains.[7] However, the following players - who have never officially captained England - have worn the captain's armband during the course of a match when the official captain and vice-captain have been sent off or substituted:

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Alfred Bower was the last amateur player to captain England
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sources differ concerning the captaincy for England vs Wales, 12 March 1894. It was either Charles Wreford-Brown or Cunliffe Gosling
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sources differ concerning the captaincy for England vs Wales, 18 January 1879. It was either Arthur Cursham or Henry Wace
  4. ↑ Claude Ashton was the last player to be appointed captain for his solitary England appearance
  5. ↑ Ireland 0 - England 2; 5 March 1892 (Match summary)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 The captaincy for England vs Ireland, 7 March 1896 is disputed between GO Smith (13 confirmed captaincies), and George Raikes and Vaughan Lodge, neither of whom had captained England in another match.
  7. ↑ "England's Captains - Index". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  8. ↑ "England Match No. 787 - Italy - 27 March 2002 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  9. ↑ "England Match No. 799 - Australia - 12 February 2003 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "England Match No. 803 - Serbia & Montenegro - 3 June 2003 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  11. ↑ "England Match No. 827 - USA - 28 May 2005 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  12. ↑ "England Match No. 842 - Portugal - 1 July 2006 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  13. ↑ "England Match No. 893 - France - 17 November 2010 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  14. ↑ "England Match No. 904 - Norway - 26 May 2012 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  15. ↑ "England Match No. 910 - Italy - 15 August 2012 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  16. ↑ "England Match No. 913 - San Marino - 12 October 2012 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  17. ↑ "England Match No. 931 - Honduras - 7 June 2014 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2014-06-18.

External links