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Captain (association football)

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

England Women's captain Steph Houghton and USA Women's captain Abby Wambach shake hands before the start of their soccer match.

The Team Leader in Football

In association football, also called soccer, the captain is a special player who leads the team. The captain is usually one of the older or more experienced players. They wear an armband so everyone knows they are the team leader.

The captain helps start the game by taking part in the coin toss with the other team's captain. After big matches, the captain is the first to lift the trophy if the team wins. They also help keep everyone’s spirits up and may help decide who plays.

Sometimes, a team has more than one captain. If the main captain can’t play, the vice-captain steps in to lead. For example, in big matches like the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final, another player lifted the trophy because the main captain couldn’t play.

Captains are important leaders on the field, helping their teammates and making sure everyone works together.

Images

An official FIFA captain armband worn by team leaders during soccer matches.
Soccer players from Liverpool FC and Mainz 05 during a test match in Grödig on July 23, 2021.
A football player giving a farewell gesture.
Cristiano Ronaldo playing football during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Lionel Messi playing soccer for Argentina during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Related articles

Association football

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Captain (association football), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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