The summer of 2016 has been a strange one for Chelsea Football Club and its fans. They have got a lot of time to reflect on how they went from Premier League Champions to mid-table dwellers in the space of 12 months. Also, they are set to lose out on the services of club captain John Terry within the next nine months. The former England skipper has led the London club throughout their most successful period in history. Be it the Premier League Trophy or the Champions League winner’s medal, Terry has won them all as captain. As all good things must come to an end, the 35-year-old defender will be relieved of captain’s duties this summer. Poised with a daunting task of captaining one of the biggest clubs in Europe, let us take a look at five possible choices for Chelsea’s club captain next season:
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5. Thibaut Courtois
At 24 years of age, the 6ft 6-inch goalkeeper has established himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in the world. A couple of seasons back, he replaced Petr Cech in the starting XI, which speaks volumes about his talent and capabilities. The Belgian loves screaming at his defenders and is often caught doing that in international colours. He has shown natural leadership qualities at his loan spell with Atletico Madrid. Maybe age is against the keeper from becoming captain, but John Terry was 23 years old when Mourinho handed over the captaincy to him after Desially had left the club. Goalies like Oliver Kahn, Iker Casillas, and Gigi Buffon have become great captains. Hence, handing over the armband to young Courtois will not be a move to regret.
4. Branislav Ivanovic
The Serbian is the most experienced player after Terry and hence, can replace him as captain for a season or two. He has been a regular at Stamford Bridge since 2008 and has captained the team on a few occasions. Defenders are the best choice for a captaincy role. Carles Puyol for FC Barcelona, Nemanja Vidic for Manchester United and John Terry for Chelsea are the best examples. He is one of the biggest speakers’s in the dressing room and is known to motivate the youngsters. He captains Serbia and has made 87 appearances for his country. He is experienced, loved by the fans and is a club stalwart, reasons which make him the favourite to be appointed as club captain.
3. Eden Hazard
With a slew of rumours regarding his exit from Stamford Bridge this summer, the extra responsibility of captaincy may entice him to stay at the club. A quiet player off the pitch, Eden Hazard saves all his energy for performances on the pitch. With the responsibility of captaincy bestowed upon him in the Euros, Hazard handled himself very well and led from the front with a couple of brilliant performances. He scored a goal and assisted four, which is joint first for the most assists in the Euros. The midfielder is a definite starter and a world class player. With captaincy burdened on his shoulders, Hazard can elevate his game to a whole new level.
2. Cesc Fabregas
The Spaniard may not be the fan’s favourite anymore, (After his comments on the outgoing Jose Mourinho) but he is the club’s most decorated and influential player at the age of 28. His leadership qualities are top notch, having captained London rivals Arsenal at the age 21. An irreplaceable player at the heart of midfield, Fabregas is the engine on which the club runs. When he is on song, the team is unbeatable. When he has a bad day, Chelsea become vulnerable and have a high chance of losing the game. After a dismal tournament in France, Fabregas will be desperate to put in performances consistently next season. Added with the captain’s tag next season, Fabregas can inspire his team to the title.
1. Gary Cahill
The centre-back has been impressive in his four-year spell at Stamford Bridge. He has had the chance to learn a great deal from captain John Terry partnering him in defence. The England vice-captain has won the Champions League, Premier League and many other trophies with the London club. He is a born leader and captained his previous team (Bolton) for a couple of seasons. Cahill may have gone down the pecking order last season, but due to recent activities, (Zouma’s injury and Terry’s current situation) Cahill is currently the club’s best defender and with captaincy experience, he may find himself leading the London club for seasons to come.
