The club captaincy is seemingly sorted out, but who will be Chelsea’s next vice captain?
Cesar Azpilicueta is the runaway favorite to be Chelsea’s next club captain following Gary Cahill’s release at the end of last season. With David Luiz shockingly departing to Arsenal on deadline day, questions now surround the club’s vice captain role.
Luiz, a seasoned Chelsea veteran and mentor to many young players, looked to be in line to take over the vice captain role after signing a two-year contract extension just a few months ago. However, with his move to north London, no candidates emerge clearly to captain the team in Azpilicueta’s absence and help Azpilicueta with the locker room leadership duties.
One thing is certain: no matter who the next vice captain is, he won’t have as much experience with the as Luiz or Azpilicueta. Still, there are some fantastic options in the squad.
In a leadership sense, N’Golo Kante reminds everybody of current club captain Azpilicueta. He’s hard-working, relatively quiet and loved by the fans.
Kante has been at Chelsea since 2016, playing over 100 matches for the club. He’s simply one of the world’s best midfielders. When you combine his talent with his fun-loving nature, it’s easy to see why Kante is a fan favorite. His commitment to the club cannot be questioned, as he essentially played the Europa League final on one leg last season. For these reasons, Kante has a decent shot at winning the vice captain role, but his soft spoken nature could cost him the spot.
If Frank Lampard prefers an outspoken vice captain, look no further than Antonio Rudiger. Rudiger, who joined Chelsea in 2017, has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind. He’s the perfect blend of experience, passion and talent. Not to mention, he’s a rock at the back.
Rudiger has become a staple in the Chelsea XI and, after Kurt Zouma’s shaky performance at Old Trafford, he seems to be on the fast track back once fully fit. The German is under contract through the 2021/22 season, but has been regularly linked to a lucrative extension. Although he hasn’t been in west London for long, he’s Chelsea through and through. Maybe, just maybe, all that #hustle can earn him the armband in the near future.
The long-shot for the vice captain spot is Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Loftus-Cheek is the perennial heir to John Terry, an undeniable talent who joined the club at a very young age. While Loftus-Cheek hasn’t had as much playing time as Kante or Rudiger, he’s the youngest option and has been at Chelsea FC longer than any first team player except Tammy Abraham (both joined the Blues in 2004).
Prior to his injury, Loftus-Cheek became nearly impossible to leave out. He brings a skillset to the team no other Chelsea midfielder can match, and it’s only a matter of time before Lampard gets his hands on him in training. Appointing Loftus-Cheek to be the next vice captain would put him on track to become Terry’s successor in nearly every sense.
Azpilicueta will be the club captain for the foreseeable future, so naming an older player vice captain would make little sense. While players like Pedro and Willian are sensible options, the title should go to a younger player who could one day have a go at club captain. Andreas Christensen, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mason Mount and Reece James are other sensible options in years to come.
Whether Lampard is looking for the next Gary Cahill (short, yet successful, stint as club captain) or John Terry (needs no explanation) a solution to each trait he desires is already in his squad.
The foundation of Chelsea’s future is there, it just needs to be set.