BREAKING: Heartbreaking news for Bruno Fernandes fans was announced this morning as Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has removed him from the captaincy. A new captain has now been named.
Heartbreaking news for Bruno Fernandes fans was announced this morning as Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has removed him from the captaincy. A new captain has now been named.
Maya Le Tissier has been appointed as the new captain of Manchester United for the 2024/25 season, taking over the role from Katie Zelem, who departed from the club over the summer.
Le Tissier, a central defender, joined Manchester United two years ago from Brighton & Hove Albion and quickly became a key figure in the team’s defense, showcasing her reliability and consistency at the back.
Expressing her excitement over the new role, Le Tissier stated, “It is an honor to be appointed captain of this wonderful football club, and I will wear the armband with great pride to help lead this squad to victory both on and off the pitch.” Her appointment comes after the departure of former captain Katie Zelem,
who led the team since 2019 and helped secure the FA Cup in May before leaving Manchester United upon the expiration of her contract the following month. Zelem has since joined Angel City FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States.
Le Tissier’s performances over the past couple of seasons have been outstanding. She has developed a strong defensive partnership with Millie Turner, contributing to a Women’s Super League (WSL) record of 14 clean sheets during the 2022/23 season, helping Manchester United secure a second-place finish in the league.
Her impressive displays at the club level have not gone unnoticed internationally, as she earned her first senior England call-up after the Lionesses’ triumph at Euro 2022.
Le Tissier has made four appearances for the national team so far and was part of the standby list for the 2023 World Cup. She traveled with the England squad to Australia, although she did not feature in any matches.
Her progress at the international level has been somewhat hindered by England manager Sarina Wiegman, who tends to see her as a full-back, the position she played while at Brighton, rather than her preferred role as a center-back.
At the end of the 2023/24 season, Le Tissier was named United’s joint Players’ Player of the Year alongside Ella Toone, who has been appointed as the new vice-captain of the team. Previously, Manchester United did not have a designated deputy captain for Zelem, although Hayley Ladd often wore the armband in Zelem’s occasional absence. Both Le Tissier and Toone are seen as key players for the club’s future.
Le Tissier recently signed a new contract that will keep her at Manchester United until 2028, while Toone, who is United’s all-time leading appearance maker and top goalscorer with 53 goals in 164 games, signed a contract in 2022 that runs until the end of the next season.
The decision to make Le Tissier the new captain signals Manchester United’s faith in her leadership qualities and reflects her rapid rise within the squad. She is expected to continue playing a vital role in the team’s defense while guiding the squad as they aim for further success in the upcoming season.
