admin Every year since Pep Guardiola joined Manchester City, a legend has left the club.
2017 was Pablo Zabaleta, 2018 was Yaya Toure. Vincent Compagny left the club triumphantly in 2019 and David Silva returned a year later. Sergio Aguero was out of contract in 2021 until Fernandinho returned to Brazil last year. 2023 is the year Ilkay Gundogan leaves the Etihad and his final task is to win the Champions League trophy.
This city knows how to say goodbye to legends, and it knows how to replace them. It may take a year or two, as in the case of Kompagny and Aguero, but City will undoubtedly find someone who can fill the huge hole left by these stars.
Mateo Kovacic is Gundogan’s immediate role and Guardiola has hinted at other potential midfield players, including John Stones and Phil Foden. His lead will be more difficult to replace when Gundogan leaves.
The process for selecting Gundogan’s replacement captain remains unchanged. Players and staff will vote, but Pep Guardiola will not, a new captain and a new member of the five-man team will be elected.
In 2019, David Silva replaced Kompani, Fernandinho replaced Silva, and Gundogan replaced Fernandinho. The oldest and most experienced player took over the bandages. Each of these players didn’t have to be an outspoken leader like Kompani, but rather an example and a timed player to speak up. When they spoke, everyone listened.
If the dressing room wanted a similar player, Kevin De Bruyne would be the obvious candidate. As the longest-serving player in the team, he has spoken on the pitch, performed on the big stage and earned the respect of all at the club. While Gundogan hasn’t played this season, De Bruyne has worn the armband nine times, more than any of the other four captains.
He acknowledged his leadership role in an inspiring speech in Istanbul after Kyle Walker,
‘s next captain for five games, sat on the bench. However, Walker has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich as his successor, with just one year left on his deal. De Bruyne will definitely be a long-term option.
Or is it possible that Ruben Diaz is an outsider taking over the captaincy? A stunning UEFA Champions League final short film shows Gundogan calling out to Diaz during training the night before the game, and Diaz uttering his final words in the tunnel before the team entered the second half. But the only time he wore an armband was at the start of the Community Shield 11 months ago.
Diaz is no stranger to motivational speeches in the locker room. He would be a captain like Kompani more than Gundogan or Silva. Not only will he set an example on the pitch, but he will also give City a more traditional and vocal captain they haven’t had in the last five years. Not that that was the problem.
Rodri took to the Houston hotel ballroom last summer to announce his intentions for more leadership this season, becoming the final member of the captaincy. He went above and beyond, producing consistently great performances and being the only truly unbeatable player on the team. Rodri is by no means a bad option if City want a midfield captain anywhere in the world.
When Gundogan and possibly Walker leave, there will be a member of the Captain’s Commission. Can John Stones continue to rise and take on more responsibility? Ederson has been at City since 2017 and Manu Akanji seems to have the temperament to do it. The UEFA film shows Rodri telling his teammates to ‘fight till the end’ during a victory celebration. If Bernardo Silva stays, he’ll be another veteran who knows exactly what’s expected of him in the dressing room.
The post of ‘fifth captain’ would be an interesting appointment, but the top job seems to fall somewhere between the humble and long-serving De Bruyne and the loud and outspoken Diaz. There will be no bad match between the two.
