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The most important player on any team is the captain. Captains don't have to be the best players in the world, but they have to have several qualifications. For one, they have to be respected and influential...

Who's the Best Captain in Europe?

by Thomas (Senior Writer)

58

4,998 reads

Rankings/List

September 26, 2008


The most important player on any team is the captain. Captains don't have to be the best players in the world, but they have to have several qualifications. For one, they have to be respected and influential. If they're not, they shouldn't be captain.

I'm not here to talk about captains though. I need your help. I've collected 15 captains from Europe—all of them great in anyone's opinion—and I want you to decide who is the best captain in Europe.

 

15. Steven Gerrad

Position: Center Midfielder

Club: Liverpool FC

The versatile English midfielder was made captain of Liverpool in 2003, replacing Sami Hyypiä. He has since led Liverpool to two Champions League finals. In 2005, he was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year.

 

14. Juninho Pernambucano

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Club: Olympique Lyon 

 

The Brazillian free-kick specialist joined Lyon from Vasco da Gama in 2001. Since then, Lyon has won the league title for seven straight years. Known for his deadly accurate free kicks, Juninho has been nominated countless times for the FIFA Player of the Year award and the France Football Ballon d'Or.

 

13. Francesco Totti

Position: Attacking Midfielder/Striker 

Club: AS Roma

Of all the clubs he could've have gone to in his career, Totti has stayed at Roma. That shows commitment. The 31-year-old midfielder/striker has been one of the reasons Roma had done well in Serie A. He holds the club record as the most capped player and is the club's top goalscorer in history.

 

12. Alessandro Del Piero

Position: Attacking Midfielder/Striker

Club: Juventus

One of the veterans of the football world, Del Piero has been at Juventus since 1993. In that time, he has made a name as one of the most creative players in the world. Like Totti, Del Piero can play midfielder and striker. His free kicks and penalty kicks are a terror to any opposition. He is the club's top goalscorer in history.

 

11. Raúl González

Position: Striker

Club: Real Madrid

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58 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Daniel Damico 9 months ago

    Love the article!! Personally, I would put Gerrad higher on the list. He always seems to come through in the clutch. When they need a goal, he seems to score. But I am not sure who you move down! But I like the mix from all the leagues! PS - I love the loyalty angle for some of these players!
    Nice job.

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    • Dev Ashish 9 months ago

      daniel you got to choose the best captain from the list mate :P

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    • Thomas 9 months ago

      this isnt ranked. i just put them in the order I thought of them. when i came up with the idea for this article, Gerrard was the first guy to come to my mind.

      Thanks Daniel.

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  2. Dev Ashish 9 months ago

    Uff!! Tough to name one!

    But I'll go with Paolo Maldini!

    The old general is experienced, respected and shown immense loyalty to the club even in its worst times! He led the team from disgrace to being European Champions and World Club Champions!
    He held the team together even after the fixing allegations and relegation before bringing them back to Serie A!

    He is undoubtedly Europe's best captain!

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  3. Daniel Damico 9 months ago

    Being a Arsenal and Roma fan, my immediate reaction is to pick Gallas or Totti. There is no poor choice on this list. I think the major qualifier is: "if you take anyone off field, who leaves the biggest whole?"

    This is going to hurt a little but, because I do not like this guy or his club - but I would choose John Terry (Gallas 2nd and Puyol 3rd). Terry is always in the mix - good and bad - he is always close to the action and the match deciding plays. Plus he is not only the captain of his club, but the English national team. And when Terry is gone, both teams are more vulnerable.

    Roma have won without Totti, Liverpool beat Manchester United without Gerrad (came in as a sub), and Neville was out last season and ManU did ok. Apparently, I need to have a CB as captain!!

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  4. Ziggy Mends 9 months ago

    It's Paolo Maldini for me. He took over from another legend, Franco Baresi, both at club and national team level and has definitely shown exemplary leadership over the years. Gerrard comes in at second place. Gary Neville should never make such a list. I think he's the worst captain in Europe, if not the world. I would have voted Giggs as one of the very best if he were the substantive captain.

    Hey Dev, I think you got Maldini and Del Piero mixed up somewhere in your comment. Milan was not relegated!!!!

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  5. Salaar Arshad Shamsi 9 months ago

    Thomas, I hope you haven't chosen Gallas as your No.1 (I can't stand him). Steven Gerrard for me!

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  6. Tahira Adams 9 months ago

    Great Article, Not totally about the premier league and very refreshing. I'm not going to be biased, Gallas is not the best...good but not the best. So I have to say my top three in this order are:

    1) Franchesco Totti - So Loyal! So loved by his team and fans! And as a plus, so talented!

    2) John Terry - Because i see a lot of passion and heart when he plays (not that no one else has it, I just see it more with john terry).

    3) Palo Maldini - well... I guess the team can find stability in him. I mean why not, who else should deserve the captaincy there?

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  7. Michelle Alves 9 months ago

    Brilliant article.

    I'd say

    1) Gerrard

    2) Maldini

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  8. Guido 9 months ago

    Mark van Bommel for me. Someone who puts in 200% every match and has a healthy dose of agression in his style of play.

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    • Thomas 9 months ago

      i didnt think anyone would pick him, but u did. interesting choice

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    • Guido 9 months ago

      I'll be honest enought to admit a healthy dose of bias here ;) Mark was born in the same village as I was and his dad is the chairman of the local amateur side I play for. He's a nice guy as well, always helps out when the club has a party or needs kits from footballers as prizes for lotteries.

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    • Thomas 9 months ago

      ah i figured there was some bias opinion there. no worries. so do u know him or anything?

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    • Guido 9 months ago

      I've spoken to him a few times, yeah. I doubt he'll remember me, but still... I somehow doubt I'm the only one here whose voted is biased somehow ;-) Most fans will pick the captain of their favourite side.

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    • Thomas 9 months ago

      yes, ur right. A lot of people are biased, haha.

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    • Ziggy Mends 9 months ago

      I think Van Bommel is a fine captain too he's been under so much fire from Effenferg and other Bayern legends about his leadership lately

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  9. Salomon Gonzales 9 months ago

    I can honestly say without being biased that it is John Terry for me....

    2. Paulo Maldini
    3. Steven Gerrard
    4. Alessandro DelPiero
    5. Francesco Totti...

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  10. Danny Penza 9 months ago

    I dunno about Maldini considering he barely plays anymore. Maybe a few years ago, but not now.

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  11. Barney 9 months ago

    Wow at first I thought you had done these in the order you thought! I was going to say about Gerrard being so low! But if we get to choose.... Well, the only ones that come close, as captains not players, to Gerrard, are Terry, Maldini, Totti and perhaps Puyol. But I still think it's Stevie!

    1. Steven Gerrard
    2. John Terry
    3. Paolo Maldini
    4. Francesco Totti
    5. Carles Puyol

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    • Thomas 9 months ago

      of course Gerrard woudnt be that low!

      i'm telling you all to choose if I had chosen myself this list would be a lot different, haha.

      ok Stevie it is for u

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  12. Maire Ofeire 9 months ago

    Paolo Maldini.

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  13. Yoosof Farah 9 months ago

    great article thomas. i'm gonna go for stephen mcmanus, i think he's a brilliant captain, and a fantastic player for celtic.

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    • Yoosof Farah 9 months ago

      well i chose him from the list, but in my true, honest opinion, gillingham captain andrew crofts is the best in europe. he's a brilliant leader and always give 1000% for his club. i'm surprised he's not captain of wales! but i suppose i have to pick from the list, so yes my vote goes to stephen mcmanus.

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    • Thomas 9 months ago

      McManus for you. good choice. definately one of the better captains.

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  14. Zahi Sahli 9 months ago

    Great article!!!!

    When I think of the greatest captains, I think of one player: PAOLO MALDINI... All the way!!

    Zanetti has been great and fights at 34 with the enthusiasm of an 18 year old. Del Piero and Totti are excellent as well. They are "worshipped" by their clubs' fans.

    Gerrard is also an excellent captain. Terry also.

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    • Thomas 9 months ago

      Maldini then. Zanetti is great too. i think too be captain in the Serie A u have to be there for a while and worshipped by the fans

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  15. Bela Trimmel 9 months ago

    Really great choice when it comes down to captains. I am torn between Neville and Terry.

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  1. Brandon Brown 9 months ago

    I'd have to say Juninho. Someone with his talents can play in any of the top 3 leagues, and yet he has stayed with Lyon for going on 8 seasons. That's loyalty, and I love loyalty. It's for that reason that I can't even consider Gallas. McManus and Neville get close runner ups.

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  2. Benjamin Rogers 9 months ago

    Brillient article mate, So many big names its hard to say but im going for the trio of Totti, Gerrard and Puyol. sorry but i couldnt seperait them.

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  3. David Morales 9 months ago

    Terry, he's the most important player for his team,
    Gerrard next
    and Del Piero because he's still holding down a spot at his age

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  4. Shyam Parthasarathi 9 months ago

    Maldini, Gerrard, then the rest..

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  5. Joe G 9 months ago

    Maldini, because he's loyal, tenacious and still playing at a high level today.

    Terry whines too much for my taste (should be leading by example...oh wait, he does)

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  6. Jim Graham 9 months ago

    In my view, a great captain isn't just a guy whose team is great during his tenure as captain. That has far more to do with the ownership's ability to buy top talent. My question is, which players have the ability to inspire their teams with their play? When the team is up against it, which captains can be looked to for a moment of inspiration? I suppose that definition makes it hard for a defender to be my kind of great captain, but so be it.

    That leads me to Totti and Gerard.

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  7. Rahul Basu 9 months ago

    I'd say Steven Gerrard and Paolo Maldini have to be the best. Del Piero and Totti are great players too.
    If you're talking Man Utd, I don't see how Gary Neville makes the list, when you've had a captain like Roy Keane, and players like Giggs wearing the armband since Keane retired..
    For Arsenal, Gallas hasn't really been great (he's been in good goalscoring form this season), and the way he vented his frustration last season etc last season reflected poorly on his leadership qualities. I think Cesc Fabregas would make a much better skipper.

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    • Thomas 9 months ago

      hm, interesting. Neville is up there cuz Man. Utd cant really be left off. in my opinion, i'd have giggs over neville

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  8. Nymkhishig Batbayar 9 months ago

    for Bayern fan my undoubtedly only choice is "Mark Peter Gertuda Andreas Van Bommel". if you'd wrote this article last year it would've Oliver Kahn.

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