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Leadership is a key element in football and it is true that great captains tend to have more success. Marshaling the team to be consistent and efficient is a task for any captain.
Football has seen some amazing leaders leave their mark on the game. The likes of Roy Keane, John Terry, Vincent Kompany, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol and many others played a huge part in bringing success to their respective clubs with their leadership.
In the current era, motivation has become a massive factor in football. It's very easy for the players to get complacent and that's where the team captains come in on the pitch.
Luckily, there are some great captains present in the football world right now. Most of them are well-experienced and with time their hunger for success has only increased. On that note, let's have a look at the greatest XI in club football consisting purely of captains:
Formation: 4-3-3
GK: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
Goalkeeping standards haven't been the same ever since Manuel Neuer introduced the sweeper-keeper role. The German was very impressive during his time at Schalke in the Bundesliga.
This helped him earn a move to German giants Bayern Munich and it is now more than 10 seasons that Neuer has been with them. In the process, he has won a lot of accolades with the Bavarians. His amazing reading of the game, combined with his smart shot-stopping abilities, has been a delight to watch.
Neuer's experience and calming presence between the sticks make him a very reliable captain. It will be interesting to see if the 2014 World Cup winner can help his team win multiple silverware this season.
RB: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
One of the most consistent players in the Premier League for almost the last decade is Cesar Azpilicueta. Since signing for Chelsea in the 2012-13 season, the Spaniard has been of immense help to the Blues.
His versatility and consistency at the back has been a blessing for the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League winners. Azpilicueta has played as a left-back, right-back, left wing-back, right wing-back and as a centre-back in his Chelsea tenure so far.
More importantly, the former Osasuna defender has done very well at whichever position he has played. Over time, he has had a commanding influence in the Chelsea dressing room and is the ideal player to lead the Blues.
CB: Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)
Having started his career with Corinthians, Marquinhos has come a long way. The Brazilian has been a superstar at Paris Saint-Germain since joining them in 2013.
Marquinhos has been a regular figure with the French club. He has had a strong presence at the back, marshaling his troops with determination and aggression. The former Roma centre-back has also played as a defensive midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain and has done a pretty good job at that.
With his style of play, Marquinhos is the right person to lead the French club. He's only 27 years old and has got some good years under his belt to achieve success.
CB: Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
The experienced centre-back is the captain for both Juventus and the Italian national team. Giorgio Chiellini is a very smart player to have in the backline.
He has been a strong figure over the years with his amazing reading and effective tackling at the back. Chiellini is a physically strong and aggressive defender, and even at the age of 37, he's looking very solid.
The Euro 2020 winner has given his everything to Juventus, having spent 16 seasons with them. The Serie A giants have the right person as their captain, who knows the club in and out. Notably, he will also be an able leader of this team entirely made up of captains.
LB: Jose Gaya (Valencia)
Jose Gaya is one of the most loyal players in world football. Having graduated from the Valencia academy, the Spanish defender has been with them for nine seasons now.
He has been a regular face in the starting eleven for the Bats. His attack-minded approach on the left wing has been a delight to watch. Gaya was very much in demand in Europe during his prime. He's only 26 right now and can still have a change of heart and join a different club.
That being said, he's the captain of Valencia and will be looking to do well with them. Barcelona and Real Madrid have been linked with wanting to sign Gaya in the past.
CDM : Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)
There aren't as many midfielders who have had as much consistency in their game as Sergio Busquets has. The Barcelona captain has been a blessing to the game and he probably deserves more recognition.
The Spanish defensive midfielder has played an amazing role for the Catalan club ever since he was promoted to the senior side in 2008. His ball-winning ability and the art of dictating the tempo from deep midfield has done wonders for Barcelona. Busquets has been able to break the opposition's attack time and again and allows his attacking team-mates to do their job peacefully.
Having so much experience under his belt, it is only right that the Spaniard gets to be the captain of Barcelona. With things not quite stable with the Spanish giants right now, the calmness and leadership of Busquets will definitely come in handy.
CM: Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Ever since Steven Gerrard departed in 2015, Jordan Henderson has taken over as Liverpool captain. The English midfielder has had quite the journey as a footballer in England.
Coming through the ranks at Sunderland, Henderson spent more than two seasons with them before Liverpool sought after his services in 2011. The Englishman has more or less been a regular face in the starting lineup but his form has changed significantly since Jurgen Klopp became the Reds' manager.
Henderson has proved to be a maestro in midfield for the Merseyside club as his leadership has been quite productive for them. He played a key role in helping Liverpool win both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League under Klopp. With him as their captain, Liverpool have a very bright chance of being more successful in the near future.
CM: Koke (Atletico Madrid)
Koke has been a one-club man as has spent his entire career so far playing for Atletico Madrid. The Spanish midfielder joined the club when he was eight and has been with them ever since.
He has an amazing passing range and vision, which helps him pick out players with utter ease. Koke can play anywhere in midfield, which gives the manager a lot of options on the pitch.
Since Diego Godin departed in 2019, Koke has been captaining the side. The 29-year old Spanish midfielder will hope to bring more success to the club under his leadership.
RW: Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)
The Italian forward came up through the ranks at Napoli. After being promoted to the senior side, Lorenzo Insigne was sent on loan to Cavese, Foggia and Pescara respectively.
With his blistering pace, quick movement and amazing ability to play on either flank, the 30-year-old is a big threat in the attack. His curling shots from long range have been known to be very effective. Insigne has been linked with a move away from Napoli in the past but he has preferred to stay in Naples.
Marek Hamsik's departure in 2019 saw the Italian become the captain of Napoli. Given the time he has spent at the club, there is no better player to lead Napoli than Insigne.
LW: Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
The German forward was once an academy player at Borussia Dortmund before moving to Borussia Monchengladbach. Marco Reus' impressive performance at Monchengladbach encouraged Dortmund to sign him in 2012.
Ever since then, the German national has been an important player for Dortmund. Injuries at regular intervals have played a part in damaging his career but nonetheless Reus' contribution remains invaluable. He stayed at the club when his team-mates were leaving to join their rival club.
With the commitment that he has shown and the sacrifices that he has made, there is no better player to lead Borussia Dortmund than Marco Reus. For all that he has given to the club, Reus is nothing short of a certified legend at the club.
ST: Ciro Immobile (Lazio)
Ciro Immobile is probably one of the most underrated strikers in the past few seasons. Having come through the ranks at Juventus, the Italian did not get many opportunities with the Old Lady.
His time at Torino saw him become the Serie A top-scorer of the 2013-14 season. Signing for Lazio in 2016 saw a drastic change in form for Immobile. In his six seasons for the club, the former Juventus striker has scored 133 goals from 188 Serie A appearances.
With a considerable amount of experience under his belt, Immobile deserves to captain Lazio. To his credit, he has done exceedingly well on a personal level too. Lazio will hope that his goal-scoring form inspires the others to do better.
