List of Manchester United F.C. captains

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Bruno Fernandes was appointed captain of Manchester United on 20 July 2023. Manchester United v Norwich City, 16 April 2022 (39).jpg
Bruno Fernandes was appointed captain of Manchester United on 20 July 2023.

Since 1882, 46 players have held the position of club captain for Newton Heath LYR F.C., Newton Heath F.C. or Manchester United F.C. [1]

Contents

The first club captain was E. Thomas, who was captain from 1882 to 1883. [1] The longest-serving captain is Bryan Robson, who was club captain from 1982 to 1994, although he held the position jointly with Steve Bruce for the last two years of his tenure. [1] Roy Keane, who was captain from 1997 to 2005, has the distinction of having won the most trophies as captain; he won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, one Community Shield, one UEFA Champions League and one Intercontinental Cup. Bruno Fernandes is the current Manchester United captain.

Captains

Caesar Jenkyns served as captain during the 1896-97 season. CaesarJenkyns.jpg
Caesar Jenkyns served as captain during the 1896–97 season.
Charlie Roberts was captain when Manchester United won their first league title in 1907. Manchester United 1908-09 (Roberts).jpg
Charlie Roberts was captain when Manchester United won their first league title in 1907.
Denis Law captained Manchester United to their first European honour. He made 494 appearances for the club and scored 237 goals. Denis Law.jpg
Denis Law captained Manchester United to their first European honour. He made 494 appearances for the club and scored 237 goals.
Bobby Charlton is United's second-highest goalscorer and has the second-most appearances for the club. He captained the club from 1968 to 1973. Bobby Charlon (1970).jpg
Bobby Charlton is United's second-highest goalscorer and has the second-most appearances for the club. He captained the club from 1968 to 1973.
Bryan Robson made 461 appearances for Manchester United and is the longest serving captain in the club's history, serving for twelve years. Bryan Robson at the cliff -march 92.JPG
Bryan Robson made 461 appearances for Manchester United and is the longest serving captain in the club's history, serving for twelve years.
Eric Cantona made 185 appearances and scored 87 goals for Manchester United. He was the club's first non British/Irish captain. Eric Cantona Cannes 2009.jpg
Eric Cantona made 185 appearances and scored 87 goals for Manchester United. He was the club's first non British/Irish captain.
Roy Keane made 480 appearances with Manchester United and is the most decorated captain in club history, serving from 1997 to 2005. Roy Keane cropped.jpg
Roy Keane made 480 appearances with Manchester United and is the most decorated captain in club history, serving from 1997 to 2005.
Gary Neville made 602 appearances for Manchester United and served as captain from 2005 to 2011. Gary Neville crop.jpg
Gary Neville made 602 appearances for Manchester United and served as captain from 2005 to 2011.
Nemanja Vidic made 300 appearances for Manchester United and served as captain from 2011 to 2014. Nemanja Vidic.jpg
Nemanja Vidić made 300 appearances for Manchester United and served as captain from 2011 to 2014.
Wayne Rooney is the club's all-time top scorer with 253 goals. He captained the club from 2014 to 2017. Wayne-Rooney-2015-10-21.jpg
Wayne Rooney is the club's all-time top scorer with 253 goals. He captained the club from 2014 to 2017.
Antonio Valencia captained the Manchester United in his final season of his ten years with the club. He was United's first captain from outside of Europe. Manchester United v FC Rostov, March 2017 (30).JPG
Antonio Valencia captained the Manchester United in his final season of his ten years with the club. He was United's first captain from outside of Europe.
DatesCaptainHonours [upper-alpha 1] Ref.
1878–1882Unknown [1]
1882–1883Flag placeholder.svg E. Thomas
1883–1887 Flag of England.svg Sam Black
1887–1891 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg Jack Powell
1891–1892 Flag of Scotland.svg Bob McFarlane
1892–1893 Flag of Scotland.svg Joe Cassidy
1893–1894Unknown
1894–1896 Flag of Scotland.svg James McNaught
1896–1897 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg Caesar Jenkyns
1897–1903 Flag of England.svg Harry Stafford
1903–1904 Flag of England.svg John Willie Sutcliffe
1904–1905 Flag of Scotland.svg Jack Peddie
1905–1913 Flag of England.svg Charlie Roberts
1913–1914 Flag of England.svg George Stacey
1914–1915 Flag of England.svg George Hunter
1915–1917 Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Patrick O'Connell
1917–1918 Flag of England.svg George Anderson
1918–1919 Flag of England.svg Jack Mew
1919–1922 Flag of England.svg Lal Hilditch
1922–1928 Flag of England.svg Frank Barson
1928–1929 Flag of England.svg Jack Wilson
1929–1930 Flag of England.svg Charlie Spencer
1930–1931 Flag of England.svg Jack Silcock
1931–1932 Flag of Scotland.svg George McLachlan
1932 Flag of England.svg Louis Page
1932–1934 Flag of England.svg Jack Silcock
1934–1935 Flag of Scotland.svg Bill McKay
1935–1937 Flag of Scotland.svg James Brown
1937–1939 Flag of England.svg George Roughton
1939–1940 Flag of Scotland.svg Bill McKay
1940–1944No competitive football was played during the Second World War
1944–1945 Flag of England.svg George Roughton
1945–1953 Flag of Ireland.svg Johnny Carey [upper-alpha 2]
1953 Flag of England.svg Stan Pearson
1953–1955 Flag of England.svg Allenby Chilton
1955–1958 Flag of England.svg Roger Byrne [upper-alpha 3]
1958–1959 Flag of England.svg Bill Foulkes
1959–1960 Flag of England.svg Dennis Viollet
1960–1962 Flag of England.svg Maurice Setters
1962–1965 Flag of Ireland.svg Noel Cantwell
1965–1968 Flag of Scotland.svg Denis Law
1968–1973 Flag of England.svg Bobby Charlton
1973–1974 Flag of Scotland.svg George Graham
1974–1975 Flag of Scotland.svg Willie Morgan
1975–1982 Flag of Scotland.svg Martin Buchan
1982–1994 Flag of England.svg Bryan Robson [upper-alpha 4]
1994–1996 Flag of England.svg Steve Bruce
1996–1997 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg Eric Cantona [upper-alpha 5]
1997–2005 Flag of Ireland.svg Roy Keane
2005–2010 Flag of England.svg Gary Neville
2010–2014 Flag of Serbia.svg Nemanja Vidić [2]
2014–2017 Flag of England.svg Wayne Rooney [3]
2017–2018 Flag of England.svg Michael Carrick [4]
2018–2019 Flag of Ecuador.svg Antonio Valencia [upper-alpha 6] [5]
2019–2020 Flag of England.svg Ashley Young [6]
2020–2023 Flag of England.svg Harry Maguire [7] [8]
2023– Flag of Portugal.svg Bruno Fernandes [9]

Notes

  1. As captain only; Bold indicates the honour was part of a domestic or continental double, Bold italics indicates the honour was part of a treble.
  2. First non-British captain
  3. Byrne died in the Munich air disaster
  4. Longest-serving captain in United's history [1]
  5. First captain from outside the British Isles
  6. First non-European captain

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Newton Heath and Manchester United Captains". Manchester United Museum Information Sheets. Manchester United. June 2009.
  2. Luckhurst, Samuel (9 January 2015). "Man United dressing room was 'concerned' by Vidic and Evra - Scholes". Manchester Evening News .
  3. Jackson, Jamie (12 August 2014). "Wayne Rooney named Manchester United's club captain by Louis van Gaal". The Guardian .
  4. "Michael Carrick". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  5. Brown, Luke (20 July 2018). "Manchester United news: Jose Mourinho to make Antonio Valencia club captain after Michael Carrick's retirement". The Independent. Independent Digital News & Media. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  6. Carney, Sam (3 August 2019). "Ole says Young will be new club captain". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  7. Carney, Sam (17 January 2020). "Maguire to be new United captain". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  8. @HarryMaguire93 (July 16, 2023). "After discussions with the manager today he has informed me he is changing captain. He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I'm personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt. So I wanted to say a massive thank you to the Manchester United fans for all their brilliant support whilst I've been wearing the armband. Since the day I took on the role, three and half years ago, it's been a huge privilege to lead Manchester United and one of the proudest moments of my career to date. It's one of the greatest honours in club football. I've done everything I possibly could to help United be successful - on and off the field. I will always be grateful to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for first giving me the responsibility and I wish whoever now takes it on every success and they will have my full support. Harry" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  9. "Fernandes named United's new club captain". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.