Alphonso Davies has been named as the new captain of the Canada’s men’s national team ahead of Copa America.
New head coach Jesse Marsch has confirmed the Bayern Munich defender as his new captain with Stephen Eustaquio, of Porto, the vice-captain.
“Alphonso is a young and experienced professional who has all the tools to be an excellent captain,” Marsch said.
“He has been in the spotlight from a young age and handled it very well, I know that he is up to the challenge of taking on a more expanded role with more responsibility.
“Stephen is also a great leader who has already formed a partnership with Alphonso, along with the leadership council, that will lead us into a home FIFA World Cup in 2026.”
Davis is a four-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year and holds a number of records including being the youngest player to debut and score for the country.
Eustaquio has featured 37 times for his national team and is the most recent Canada Soccer Player of the Year.
Canada kick off their Copa America campaign against defending champions Argentina on Thursday before games against Peru and Chile follow in Group A.
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‘The unquestioned face of CANMNT’
Alphonso Davies now becomes the unquestioned face of Canada’s men’s national team. Yes, he has long been the team’s best player and the closest thing to a household name in Canadian soccer.
Yet he has been shielded from the media at times, especially through the 2022 World Cup. Given his age and the veterans such as Atiba Hutchinson that had been on the team for longer than him, Davies was more comfortable staying in the background and not being part of Canada’s leadership committee.
But after the World Cup, Davies grew warm to the idea of leading Canada in a new way. He has coveted the role of captain since Qatar and sees it as an opportunity to put his stamp on the team and utlilize the experience he has gained playing alongside the world’s best at Bayern Munich.
The trophies he’s won and the experience he gained could help a Canada team looking to take the next step in their evolution under Jesse Marsch.
Stephen Eustaquio might have all the qualities of a typical leader, but Marsch’s plan to name Davies captain showcases just how much turnover there has been and likely will continue to be in the squad and their philosophy post-John Herdman.
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(Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)
