Richard Keys, a former Sky Sports host, has made the contentious suggestion that Thomas Tuchel should deprive Harry Kane of the England leadership. He has also identified the two people he thinks should be the next to take over the position. Kane scored in Friday night’s 2-0 victory over Albania, Tuchel’s first game as manager.
By the time the European Championships return to the UK in 2028, the Three Lions captain will be in his mid-thirties, raising doubts about how long he will play international football despite being one of the finest attackers in the world at age 31. However, Keys thinks he knows just who should take the Bayern Munich player’s armband.
Keys Suggest Declan Rice Should Replace Kane as Captain
The Arsenal midfielder used to wear the armband for West Ham
Prior to Friday’s victory at Wembley, Keys took to social media to declare that he would remove Kane from his position as captain because he represented “another failed era” of English football. He also proposed that Declan Rice of Arsenal should take Kane’s place. Additionally, he thinks that Jude Bellingham, a star for Real Madrid, should take over the role when Rice’s time is up.
England needs a new captain because we are in a new era. I would go to Bellingham after Rice. They run Kane’s race. He is too strongly linked to yet another era of failure. Tuchel will start him for a few games, but I’m not sure I would even start him.
New era – so England need a new captain. I’d go Rice now – Bellingham next. Kane’s race is run. He’s too closely associated with another failed era. I’m not sure I’d even start him but Tuchel will for a few games.
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) March 21, 2025
The 67-year-old also stated that he would not even start Kane going forward, although he did not provide a substitute for him at the top. Given that he is now the understudy, Ollie Watkins would seem to be the natural choice in that situation. Liam Delap, on the other hand, has been hailed as a long-term alternative in recent months due to his outstanding play for Ipswich Town.
Rice’s Captain Credentials
The midfielder has also led out England previously
Rice, who is only in his mid-twenties, has a wealth of captaining experience because he took over as West Ham’s captain in 2022 after Irons icon Mark Noble retired. He would go on to lead the Hammers to the Europa Conference League the following season before making his move to the Emirates.
In 2024, Rice got his half-century of caps in a friendly match against Belgium, and he was awarded the honour for that match. Rice has also previously captained his country. Ivan Toney opened his England account to put the hosts up early on, but Jude Bellingham’s equaliser in the 95th minute would tie the match 2-2.
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