Antonio Valencia has taken up the mantle of club captain at Manchester United permanently following Michael Carrick’s retirement from football.
Carrick was named captain during his final year at Old Trafford but only managed 5 appearances for the first team before accepting a position as part of Mourinho’s coaching staff, as reported by The Daily Mail.
Valencia stood in for the 36-year-old midfielder for the majority of last season and has now assumed complete ownership over the captain’s armband ahead of next season.
The 32-year-old was one of United’s most consistent performers last season, fully establishing himself as one of the best right-backs in the Premier League and leading the team by example, despite his still limited knowledge of the English language.
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According to The Mail, Mourinho has also lined up his vice-captains in the absence of the Ecuadorian, naming Chris Smalling, Ashley Young, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic as 5 possible candidates.
“The captain was Valencia last season, and I think he’s going to be the captain,’ said the Portuguese boss. ‘When he doesn’t play, we have to make decisions.
“It depends on who is on the pitch. If Smalling is, Ashley Young is, if Herrera is or Mata is, if they are on the pitch they have an option.
“Matic has all the attributes to be Manchester United captain, but he arrived only one year ago.”