List of England national football team captains

Wayne Rooney, pictured here at UEFA Euro 2012, has been the current England captain since 2014.

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

Elizabeth II presents the Jules Rimet Trophy to England captain Bobby Moore, 1966

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 Wright	1946–1959	90	105	9 October 1948
1	Moore, BobbyBobby Moore	1962–1973	90	108	29 May 1963
3	Robson, BryanBryan Robson	1980–1991	65	90	17 November 1982
4	Beckham, DavidDavid Beckham	1996–2009	59	115	15 November 2000
5	Gerrard, StevenSteven Gerrard	2000–2014	40	114	31 March 2004
6	Shearer, AlanAlan Shearer	1992–2000	34	63	1 September 1996
6	Terry, JohnJohn Terry	2003–2012	34	72	16 August 2006
8	Keegan, KevinKevin Keegan	1972–1982	31	63	24 March 1976
9	Hughes, EmlynEmlyn Hughes	1969–1980	23	62	11 March 1974
10	Crompton, BobBob Crompton	1902–1914	22	41	2 March 1903
10	Haynes, JohnnyJohnny Haynes	1954–1962	22	56	15 May 1960
12	Hapgood, EddieEddie Hapgood	1933–1939	20	30	14 November 1934
13	Platt, DavidDavid Platt	1989–1996	19	62	17 February 1993
13	Rooney, WayneWayne Rooney	2003–present	19	115	14 November 2009
15	Lineker, GaryGary Lineker	1984–1992	18	80	12 September 1990
16	Bailey, NormanNorman Bailey	1878–1887	15	19	12 March 1881
16	Armfield, JimmyJimmy Armfield	1959–1966	15	43	28 September 1961
16	Shilton, PeterPeter Shilton	1970–1990	15	125	25 May 1982
16	Adams, TonyTony Adams	1987–2000	15	66	12 October 1994
20	Woodward, VivViv Woodward	1903–1911	14	23	15 February 1908
21	Smith, G. O.G. O. Smith	1893–1901	13	20	4 April 1896
21	Hardwick, GeorgeGeorge Hardwick	1946–1948	13	13	28 September 1946
23	Goodall, RoyRoy Goodall	1926–1933	12	25	31 March 1928
24	Wilkins, RayRay Wilkins	1976–1986	10	84	22 September 1982
24	Pearce, StuartStuart Pearce	1987–1999	10	78	8 June 1991
26	Owen, MichaelMichael Owen	1998–2008	9	89	17 April 2002
27	Hill, JackJack Hill	1925–1929	8	11	2 April 1927
27	Mills, MickMick Mills	1972–1982	8	42	13 May 1978
28	Francis, GerryGerry Francis	1974-1976	8	12	3 September 1975
30	Wilson, GeorgeGeorge Wilson	1921–1924	7	12	22 October 1921
30	Butcher, TerryTerry Butcher	1980–1990	7	77	12 November 1986
30	Ince, PaulPaul Ince	1992–2000	7	53	9 June 1993
30	Ferdinand, RioRio Ferdinand	1997–2011	7	81	26 March 2008
34	Male, GeorgeGeorge Male	1934–1939	6	19	18 November 1936
34	Ball, AlanAlan Ball	1965–1975	6	72	12 March 1975
34	Thompson, PhilPhil Thompson	1976–1982	6	42	22 November 1979
37	Walters, PercyPercy Walters	1885–1890	5	13	13 March 1886
37	Edwards, WillisWillis Edwards	1926–1929	5	16	22 October 1928
37	Clayton, RonnieRonnie Clayton	1955–1960	5	35	17 October 1959
40	Lindley, TinsleyTinsley Lindley	1886–1891	4	13	4 February 1888
40	Harris, StanleyStanley Harris	1904–1906	4	6	25 February 1905
40	Wadsworth, SamSam Wadsworth	1922–1926	4	9	22 October 1924
40	Jack, DavidDavid Jack	1924–1932	4	9	5 April 1930
40	Blenkinsop, ErnieErnie Blenkinsop	1928–1933	4	26	9 December 1931
40	Cooper, ThomasThomas Cooper	1927–1934	4	15	14 April 1934
40	Peters, MartinMartin Peters	1966–1974	4	67	19 May 1971
46	Holmes, RobertRobert Holmes	1888–1895	3	7	13 March 1893
46	Spencer, HowardHoward Spencer	1897–1905	3	6	14 February 1903
46	Grimsdell, ArthurArthur Grimsdell	1920–1923	3	6	9 April 1921
46	Bower, AlfredAlfred Bower[1]	1923–1927	3	5	8 December 1924
46	Walker, BillyBilly Walker	1920–1932	3	18	21 May 1925
46	Strange, AlfredAlfred Strange	1930–1933	3	20	14 May 1931
46	Barkas, SamSam Barkas	1936–1937	3	18	23 October 1937
46	Ramsey, AlfAlf Ramsey	1948–1953	3	32	15 November 1950
46	Flowers, RonRon Flowers	1955–1966	3	49	27 May 1964
46	Charlton, BobbyBobby Charlton	1958–1970	3	106	15 January 1969
46	Watson, David V.David V. Watson	1974–1982	3	65	24 April 1981
46	Campbell, SolSol Campbell	1996–2007	3	70	24 May 1998
46	Lampard, FrankFrank Lampard	1999–2014	3	106	9 February 2011
58	Ottaway, CuthbertCuthbert Ottaway	1872–1874	2	2	30 November 1872
58	Bambridge, CharlesCharles Bambridge	1879–1887	2	18	18 February 1882
58	Goodall, JohnJohn Goodall	1888–1898	2	14	7 February 1891
58	Dunn, ArthurArthur Dunn	1883–1892	2	4	15 March 1892
58	Cotterill, GeorgeGeorge Cotterill	1891–1893	2	4	25 February 1893
58	Wreford-Brown, CharlesCharles Wreford-Brown	1889–1898	2 or 3[2]	4	18 March 1895
58	Pennington, JesseJesse Pennington	1907–1920	2	25	15 March 1920
58	Buchan, CharlieCharlie Buchan	1913–1924	2	6	14 March 1921
58	Patchitt, BasilBasil Patchitt	1923	2	2	21 May 1923
58	Swift, FrankFrank Swift	1946–1949	2	19	16 May 1948
58	Channon, MickMick Channon	1972–1977	2	46	28 May 1976
69	Morten, AlexanderAlexander Morten	1873	1	1	8 March 1873
69	Alcock, C. W.C. W. Alcock	1875	1	1	6 March 1875
69	Heron, HubertHubert Heron	1873–1878	1	5	4 March 1876
69	Rawson, WilliamWilliam Rawson	1875–1877	1	2	3 March 1877
69	Cursham, ArthurArthur Cursham	1880–1884	1 or 2[3]	6	2 March 1878
69	Wace, HenryHenry Wace	1878–1879	1 or 2[3]	3	5 April 1879
69	Wollaston, CharlesCharles Wollaston	1874–1880	1	4	13 March 1880
69	Sparks, FrancisFrancis Sparks	1879–1880	1	3	15 March 1880
69	Hunter, JackJack Hunter	1878–1882	1	7	26 February 1881
69	Hudson, JohnJohn Hudson	1883	1	1	24 February 1883
69	Brodie, JohnJohn Brodie	1889–1891	1	3	2 March 1889
69	Moon, BillyBilly Moon	1888-1885	1	7	6 April 1891
69	Gosling, R. CunliffeR. Cunliffe Gosling	1892–1895	1 or 2[2]	5	6 April 1895
69	Oakley, WilliamWilliam Oakley	1895–1901	1	16	9 March 1901
69	Needham, ErnestErnest Needham	1894–1902	1	16	18 March 1901
69	Foster, ReginaldReginald Foster	1900–1902	1	5	3 March 1902
69	Forman, FrankFrank Forman	1898–1903	1	9	22 March 1902
69	Bloomer, StephenStephen Bloomer	1895–1907	1	23	3 May 1902
69	Knight, ArthurArthur Knight	1919	1	1	25 October 1919
69	McCall, JosephJoseph McCall	1913–1920	1	5	23 October 1920
69	Longworth, EphraimEphraim Longworth	1920–1923	1	5	21 May 1921
69	Woosnam, MaxMax Woosnam	1922	1	1	13 March 1922
69	Doggart, GrahamGraham Doggart	1923	1	1	1 November 1923
69	Moss, FrankFrank Moss	1924	1	5	12 April 1924
69	Ashton, ClaudeClaude Ashton[4]	1925	1	1	24 October 1925
69	Lucas, TommyTommy Lucas	1921–1926	1	3	24 May 1926
69	Kean, FredFred Kean	1923–1929	1	9	21 May 1927
69	Barker, JackJack Barker	1934–1936	1	11	17 October 1936
69	Cullis, StanStan Cullis	1937–1939	1	12	24 May 1939
69	Mullery, AlanAlan Mullery	1964–1971	1	35	3 February 1971
69	Bell, ColinColin Bell	1968–1975	1	48	23 May 1972
69	Cherry, TrevorTrevor Cherry	1976–1980	1	27	31 May 1980
69	Clemence, RayRay Clemence	1972–1983	1	61	12 May 1981
69	Neal, PhilPhil Neal	1976–1983	1	50	2 June 1982
69	Beardsley, PeterPeter Beardsley	1986–1996	1	59	13 February 1988
69	Wright, MarkMark Wright	1984–1996	1	43	21 May 1991
69	Seaman, DavidDavid Seaman	1988–2003	1	75	10 September 1997
69	Keown, MartinMartin Keown	1992–2002	1	43	11 September 2000
69	Barry, GarethGareth Barry	2000–2012	1	52	29 March 2011
69	Parker, ScottScott Parker	2003–2013	1	11	29 February 2012
69	Jagielka, PhilPhil Jagielka	2008–present	1	38	12 October 2015

Disputed captaincies

Player	England career	Caps as captain	Total caps
Daft, HarryHarry Daft	1889–1892	1 or 0[5]	5
Lodge, VaughanVaughan Lodge	1894–1896	0 or 1[6]	5
Raikes, GeorgeGeorge Raikes	1895–1896	0 or 1[6]	4

Post-war captains

David Beckham, pictured here at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, captained England from 2000 to 2006.

Rio Ferdinand, pictured here at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, captained England from 2010 to 2011.

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, Channon, MickMick Channon
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
2000	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, Jagielka, PhilPhil Jagielka, Milner, JamesJames Milner, Smalling, ChrisChris Smalling,Henderson, JordanJordan Henderson

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:

• Gareth Southgate^[8]
• Robbie Fowler^[9]
• Danny Mills^[10]
• Emile Heskey^[11]
• Phil Neville^[11]
• Jamie Carragher^[11]
• David James^[12]
• Gary Neville^[13]
• Joleon Lescott^[14]
• Michael Carrick^[15]

Footnotes

1. Alfred Bower was the last amateur player to captain England
2. Sources differ concerning the captaincy for England vs Wales, 12 March 1894. It was either Charles Wreford-Brown or Cunliffe Gosling
3. 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. 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. "Clockwatch: England 4-0 Mexico". BBC Sport. 25 May 2001. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
9. "England Match No. 787 - Italy - 27 March 2002 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
10. "England Match No. 799 - Australia - 12 February 2003 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
11. "England Match No. 803 - Serbia & Montenegro - 3 June 2003 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
12. "England Match No. 827 - USA - 28 May 2005 - Match Summary and Report". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
13. "England Match No. 842 - Portugal - 1 July 2006 - 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.

External links

• England football captains database