Captains are leaders on the pitch. More often than not, they might not be the most celebrated or the best performing player on the pitch. However, their charisma and their ability to keep their cool under pressure is what makes them stand apart to wear the armband.
While most of the current audience may have seen Steven Gerrard and most recently Jordan Henderson lifting coveted trophies for the club, Liverpool FC has had many such leaders in the past as well. Here, we take a look at some of the best captains across history to don the armband and lead the Reds.
#5: Alan Hansen (1985 – 1990)
Alan Hansen arrived at Liverpool FC from Patrick Thistle for a fee of around 110,000 in 1977. A constant force in the defense for over a decade since, the Scot was a solidifying figure in the team and won over 18 trophies with the club, making him the second most decorated Red in history.
When Kenny Dalglish was appointed as player-manager of the club in 1985, he chose none other than Hansen himself to lead the team, with the defender proving to be a calm and inspiring figure on the pitch, his graceful tackles ensuring a good disciplinary record. At the end of the first season in his new role, Liverpool FC clinched both the league as well as the FA Cup.
He further cemented his legacy by winning two more league titles, before a knee injury saw him missing the vast majority of the 1988-89 season. However he was reinstated as the captain as soon as he recovered and until recently, he was the last Liverpool FC captain to lift the league trophy 30 years ago.
TROPHIES WON AS CAPTAIN:
First Division League – 1986, 1988, 1990
FA Cup – 1986, 1989
Super Cup – 1986
FA Charity Shield – 1986, 1989
#4: Jordan Henderson (2015 – Present) (As on August 2020)
Henderson was brought to Anfield from Sunderland in 2011 as a 21-year-old and while he struggled to cement a particular role in midfield, his work ethic saw him make the most first-team appearances out of all players in his debut season itself. With Steven Gerrard to look upto, the Englishman learned the ropes of leadership and was always vocal on the pitch, providing inspiration to his teammates. So when Henderson was appointed the captain after Stevie G’s departure, it came as no surprise although the reception to the news was lukewarm initially.
Injuries mired his initial years at captaincy in 2015, but Klopp showed faith in him and let him keep the armband in the long run. His passion for the club is palpable on the pitch and it cannot be doubted that Henderson provides stability and motivation to the team with his leadership. He became the first Liverpool FC captain since Graeme Souness in 1984 to lift the Champions League in 2019 and the club have finally won the Premier League after 30 long years, with Henderson achieving something as the Reds captain not even Steven Gerrard could.
He also became the first captain in the Red’s history to lift the Club World Cup trophy and the England international who is in his 9th year with the club has definitely cemented his place as one of the best captains for Liverpool FC.
TROPHIES WON AS CAPTAIN:
Premier League: 2019-20
UEFA Champions League: 2019
UEFA Super Cup: 2019
FIFA Club World Cup: 2019
#3: Emlyn Hughes (1973 – 1979)
Signed on from Blackpool in 1967, Bill Shankly instantly saw a leader in him even going so far as to inform a police officer that he has signed the “future captain of England”. The defender was one of the most important signings during that era as he not only went on to captain his national side but his club as well.
Hughes was instrumental in helping Liverpool FC win their first league title in 7 years in 1973, and was given the captain’s armband by 1975. Although there is controversy surrounding the way he was elected with Emlyn Hughes threatening to leave the club if he was not made the captain, he nevertheless delivered as the leader on the pitch by becoming Liverpool FC’s first captain ever to lift the European Cup, a feat which was repeated a year later.
He was awarded the individual accolade of Player of The Year in 1978 for his performances as well as leadership, and 11 out of his 12 trophies at Anfield have come with him wearing the armband. Overall he made 665 appearances for the club and even scored a healthy 49 goals in the process as a defender.
TROPHIES WON AS CAPTAIN:
First Division League – 1976, 1977, 1979
European Cup – 1977, 1978
FA Cup – 1974
UEFA Cup – 1976
UEFA Super Cup – 1977
FA Charity Shield – 1974, 1976, 1977
#2: Ron Yeats (1961 – 1970)
A proper working-class hero, Ron Yeats worked at a slaughterhouse before turning pro with Dundee United in 1957. A few years later, the big burly Scot was brought to Anfield by none other than Shankly himself. Liverpool FC were languishing in the second division during that time and lacked any decisive figure in the team, and Yeats was handed the armband just six months into his time at Merseyside.
The rugged defender inspired the Reds to a Second Division league title and earned promotion for the club, and in 1964 Liverpool FC were champions of England again, winning the league for the first time in 17 years. A year later, Ron Yeats captained the Reds to their first-ever FA Cup and won another league the next year. He also captained the club when Liverpool FC played their first European game against Reykjavik FC in 1964, along with 3 FA Charity Shield under his belt. All in all, “Rowdy” as he was known at the Kop made 464 appearances and was the face of the invigorated Liverpool FC that would go on to dominate the league in the next two decades.
TROPHIES WON AS CAPTAIN:
First Division League: 1964, 1966
FA Cup: 1965
Second Division League: 1962
FA Charity Shield: 1964, 1965, 1966
#1: Steven Gerrard (2003 – 2015)
There are not many top Liverpool FC related lists that Stevie G doesn’t feature in. Although he may lack in the trophy department, Steven Gerrard was the epitome of leadership at Liverpool FC, sticking through the club during some of its toughest times – most notably in the latter stages of the 2000s when Liverpool FC was on the verge of bankruptcy. He is the longest-serving captain in the club’s history with 12 full seasons at the helm.
A scouser through and through, Gerrard made his professional debut in 1998 at the age of 18. His managers duly noted his leadership skills at a very tender age but gave him time to mature both as a player and a teammate before he was handed the armband in 2003, replacing Sami Hyppia as captain.
Although frustrated about the lack of silverware during his prime years, he nevertheless turned down a 20 million pounds offer from Chelsea and inspired the Reds to their fifth Champions League in 2005, with notable goals against Olympiakos and AC Milan in the final. The next year he arguably single-handedly led the club to an FA Cup victory against West Ham – aptly named the Gerrard final. He also came close twice to win the elusive Premier League trophy for Liverpool FC. Had it not been for this single individual, Liverpool FC may very well have languished in the mid tables in the last decade.
TROPHIES WON AS CAPTAIN:
UEFA Champions League – 2005
FA Cup – 2006
League Cup – 2012
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Sami Hyppia (2001 – 2003)
Alex Raisbeck (1899 – 1909)
Graeme Souness (1981 – 1984)
