FC Barcelona appoints five captains, breaking tradition of academy representation

FC Barcelona is set to have five captains for the 2024/25 season. After Sergio Roberto’s departure, the Catalan club confirmed the appointments in an official announcement on Friday. Traditionally, Barcelona appoints four captains, but under new manager Hansi Flick, the team will have five leaders this season.

Marc-André ter Stegen, previously the vice-captain, ascends to the top captaincy spot following Sergi Roberto’s departure. The other captains, chosen during Friday’s training session, were a surprise to many.

Captaincy line-up

The new captains, in order, are: Ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, and Pedri. This marks the first time in years that no academy player is among the captains, ending a tradition that has been in place since Luis Enrique’s tenure.

Frenkie de Jong’s role

Frenkie de Jong, who has faced substantial criticism and had an uncertain future, will be the fourth captain. He is currently recovering from an injury as he prepares for the season.

Raphinha’s selection as captain is particularly surprising given the speculation about his departure throughout the summer. Nonetheless, the Brazilian has been a reliable performer for Barcelona over his two seasons at the club, consistently giving his best whenever he steps onto the pitch, making his appointment as captain well-deserved.

New rules

This season, La Liga has introduced new regulations allowing only the captain to engage with the referee regarding any decisions during the match.