HARRY MAGUIRE has joined a long list of players to be stripped of their captaincy.
The Manchester United defender confirmed on Sunday that he is no longer the Red Devils skipper.
APFILE – Manchester United’s Harry Maguire walks off the pitch after the Europa League first leg quarterfinal soccer match between Manchester United and Sevilla at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, on April 13, 2023. Maguire is no longer captain of Manchester United following talks with manager Erik ten Hag. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)[/caption]
Following talks with Erik ten Hag, Maguire has relinquished the armband he has held since 2020.
Maguire admitted that he is “extremely disappointed” with the decision but he is not the first player to be stripped of a captaincy.
Here are six other players to have lost the armband including three Arsenal stars and an ex-England ace who lost it twice.
John Terry
Times Newspapers LtdMatt Dickinson discusses the role played by former England captain John Terry during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Photograph by Marc Aspland[/caption]
John Terry was twice stripped of the England captaincy during his career.
Firstly, the defender lost the armband in 2010 after an alleged affair with the ex-girlfriend of team-mate Wayne Bridge.
Terry later returned to the role but was stripped again in 2012 following accusations he racially abused QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.
Granit Xhaka
GettyLIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 09: Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on April 9, 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dave Howarth – CameraSport via Getty Images)[/caption]
Unai Emery made Granit Xhaka his Arsenal captain in 2019 but the Swiss midfielder would last less than a year as skipper.
During a match against Crystal Palace, the Gunners fans cheered as Xhaka was subbed off, prompting him to cup his ears and storm down the tunnel.
Emery described Xhaka’s response as “wrong” and replaced him as captain with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 06: Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park on December 06, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Getty
Aubameyang was also stripped of the Arsenal captaincy, although he would last longer in the role.
Mikel Arteta removed Aubameyang as captain after dropping him in December 2021 for “failing to fulfil duties”.
The forward would leave the club just a month later, joining Barcelona on a free transfer.
William Gallas
PA:Press AssociationArsenal’s captain William Gallas sits dejected after the final whistle[/caption]
The third and final Arsenal star on this list, William Gallas became captain in 2007, a year after moving to the Emirates Stadium.
After speaking to the media about tensions in the squad in 2008, though, he was stripped by Arsene Wenger.
Gallas had hit out at younger members of the squad and was also fined and dropped by the Gunners.
Joey Barton
Joey Barton’s infamous meltdown against Manchester City on the final day in 2012 saw him lose the armband and leave QPR altogether.
Barton was sent off for elbowing Carlos Tevez before kicking Sergio Aguero and aiming a headbutt at Vincent Kompany.
QPR responded by taking the captaincy off him and sending him on loan to Marseille later that summer.
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Samuel Eto’o
Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o lost his place as captain following his country’s group stage exit from the 2014 World Cup.
After losing all three of their matches, Stephane M’Bia was named as the national team’s new skipper instead.
Eto’o responded to the snub by announcing his retirement from international football after scoring a record 56 goals in 118 caps.