Steven Gerrard: 'Wayne Rooney is perfect man to replace me as England captain'

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 24 August 2014

Steven Gerrard believes that no other player than new Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney should replace him as the next captain of the England team.

Steven Gerrard believes that there is "no more worthy" a player to replace him as England captain than Wayne Rooney.

The 34-year-old retired from international football following the Three Lions' disappointing World Cup campaign in Brazil, where they failed to progress from the group stages, leaving the armband vacant.

Gerrard feels that Rooney is the perfect candidate to take up the mantle as the leader of Roy Hodgson's side, having also been named as captain of Manchester United this season.

He wrote in the Daily Mail: "I'll never forget the day Roy Hodgson made me jump 10 feet off my couch. It was a midweek afternoon and I was at home, winding down after training, when Roy called to tell me he had important news: I was going to be his England captain.

"It was an unbelievable feeling, a real 'punch the air' moment, and I'm pretty sure Wayne Rooney will get to experience the same emotions this week when my successor is revealed. As far as I am concerned, there is no more worthy candidate to take over.

"Roy has tremendous faith in Wayne. When the Manchester United striker was under pressure in the summer, when there was increased speculation about his place in the England team, his manager stuck by him and played him in the games that mattered. It was a big show of respect."

Gerrard made 114 appearances for England, scoring 21 goals in a 14-year international career.