Tuchel names Arsenal star as Kane's deputy and England vice-captain

Ever since the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Harry Kane has been England's undisputed captain and will wear the armband once again in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

However, the vice-captaincy remained up for grabs until recently, when Thomas Tuchel made up his mind.

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While his predecessor, Gareth Southgate, was in charge, the role of the national team vice-captain was divided among several players at the 2022 World Cup, where Raheem Sterling, Harry Maguire, Jordan Henderson, and Conor Coady filled in for Kane, while Kyle Walker was the only deputy at the 2024 European Championship.

This time, Tuchel opted for a traditional structure: one captain and one vice-captain. With Henderson the only one of those five players included in the current squad - and unlikely to play a leading role - the German tactician turned elsewhere and handed the position to a new leader - Declan Rice.

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Despite not being among the squad's senior members — 11 players are older than him — nor among its most-capped internationals - Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Jordan Henderson, and Harry Kane surpass him in that regard - Tuchel had no doubts.

“I think I would say Declan is my vice-captain,” he said in the press conference after the warm-up match against New Zealand on Saturday via The Athletic.

Interestingly, Rice is no stranger to the role, having captained the Three Lions in two friendly games: against Belgium in March 2024 and against Wales last October, both times in Kane's absence.