In football, the role of a captain is significant. The person selected to wear the armband is in charge of setting the bar, demonstrating leadership, and acting as a vital conduit between the manager and the locker room. This season, several Premier League captains have seen their prominence on the field deteriorate, a position typically held by a player of the utmost significance.
Here is the list of 5 Premier League captains who aren’t in their team’s starting XI:
Cesar Azpilicueta
The longest-tenured Chelsea player was rumored to be leaving the club over the summer, but he decided against the allure of going back to Spain and instead signed a new contract at Stamford Bridge. Despite the experienced defender’s more than ten years in west London and the value of his expertise and adaptability to Chelsea, Azpilicueta’s role has diminished this season.
The 33-year-old, who is at ease playing fullback or in a back three, has started just three Premier League games this season as competition for spots has grown with the arrivals of Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly in the summer.
Azpilicueta has played just 365 minutes of Premier League football this season because Reece James, an England international who has emerged as one of Europe’s most productive defenders, has mastered the right wing-back position.
With James currently dealing with a length of time on the sidelines due to a knee ailment, Azpilicueta will want to accrue more minutes during his absence over the ensuing weeks.
Jamaal Lascelles
Despite leading Newcastle since 2016, Jamaal Lascelles has recently found himself on the outside looking in as the team’s revolution gathers steam. Lascelles has fallen down the pecking order with the additions of Dan Burn and Sven Botman throughout the last two transfer windows. Fabian Schar is now ahead of Lascelles in Newcastle’s ambitions following a turnaround in the form under Eddie Howe.
Lascelles has played just 96 minutes of Premier League football this season, with one start, and his chances of being called back are slim as the Magpies’ defense continues to stand out. Howe’s team has the best defensive record in the division with only nine goals allowed in ten games while just losing once in the Premier League this season.
Seamus Coleman
After joining Everton for £60,000 from Sligo Rovers, Seamus Coleman has undoubtedly been the best bargain in the Premier League era. He has played for the first team for more than ten years.
This week marks the 13th anniversary of Coleman’s Everton debut, although the club captain has spent the majority of the season playing a supporting role. Since taking advantage of his opportunity in the early weeks of the season, Nathan Patterson has excelled. He took advantage of a preseason injury to Coleman to secure a regular position in Frank Lampard’s plans.
Due to Patterson’s personal injury, Coleman was forced to play in last week’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United, but it’s anticipated that he will support the Scotland international this year. The 34-year-contract old’s expires after the current season, and Lampard suggested Coleman will decide on his future, with a new agreement a possibility as long as the defender believes he is aiding the cause.
He has played for Everton in 30+ games in eight of the last 10 seasons, and if it weren’t for a catastrophic leg break, that number would have gone up. Just 22 league appearances away from Tim Howard’s club record in the Premier League, he has made 332 for Everton.
Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire would continue to serve as captain of Manchester United under Erik ten Hag’s leadership, he said before the first ball of the current campaign had even been kicked. Ten Hag decided to keep things the same even though Maguire’s performances and reputation as captain were attacked last season.
Less secure than his status as captain was the England international’s place on the team. After consecutive defeats to Brighton and Brentford, he was benched, and since that loss in August, he has only appeared in ten minutes of Premier League games.
The center-back will have to fight very hard to dislodge Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane given the improvement in Old Trafford performances, which have shown signs of an encouraging understanding while he was abroad.
The lack of playing time for the 29-year-old will worry Gareth Southgate, who has maintained to believe in him at the international level. However, Maguire’s thigh injury from the September international break and his deteriorating club status does not bode well for his World Cup training.
Luka Milivojevic
Formerly a key player in Crystal Palace’s ambitions, Luka Milivojevic has struggled to find a consistent role since Patrick Vieira was appointed manager. The Serbian international has remained a little player for the Eagles’ current season after making just nine league starts for them in 2021–2022.
The veteran midfielder Milivojevic has played just 106 minutes of Premier League football in six substitute appearances since he is yet to be selected for the starting lineup.
Milivojevic has lost favor as Vieira switched to a more vivacious and energized team; summer acquisition Cheick Doucouré is now chosen to anchor the Eagles’ midfield. Although Milivojevic has been a good employee in South London, it is anticipated that he will leave when his current contract expires at the end of the current campaign.
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