Euro 2012 - Rooney: Gerrard 'perfect' captain choice

Sun, 12 Feb 10:38:00 2012

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has put aside club rivalry by stating that Liverpool's Steven Gerrard would be the best man to lead England at Euro 2012.

2010 Steven Gerrard Wayne Rooney England training - 0

England are without a permanent coach or captain after John Terry was stripped of the armband by the Football Association pending a racial abuse trial and manager Fabio Capello quit in protest.

"For everyone asking, I would love to be England captain. But that's up to new manager to decide. Gerrard is perfect choice for me," Rooney wrote on his Twitter feed.

Rooney, who can not play in the first two Euro 2012 group games against France and Sweden because of suspension, is seen by pundits as an unlikely pick for captain with Gerrard the bookmakers' favourite for the role whoever takes over as coach.

Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce is in temporary charge for this month's friendly against Netherlands with Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp tipped by Rooney and the media to be approached about becoming the fulltime coach before or after Euro 2012.

FA chairman David Bernstein is determined not to rush an appointment and said age was no barrier to 64-year-old Redknapp.

"I can understand the hype around Harry. The guy has done amazingly," he told newspapers on Sunday.

"He is a fine manager and he is English. This job will be so attractive to many people, we will get interest from serious parties in spite of this hype."

Rooney's preference for midfielder Gerrard as captain comes after the forward scored twice as hosts United beat Liverpool 2-1 on Saturday in a game marred by Luis Suarez refusing to shake Patrice Evra's hand.

Liverpool striker Suarez was banned for eight games for racially abusing Evra in October and his fresh antics were followed by scuffles in the tunnel at half-time between the teams, who are fierce rivals and whose animosity has previously spilled over into the England set-up.

The Sunday Telegraph said Prime Minister David Cameron is to stage a summit on racism in football following the Suarez and Terry cases.

Reuters

Comment 7 - 26 of 26

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  1. All y'all who say leave Rooney outta the team­ completely, you take the pi$$.. leave out the only­ world class playerFACT you have. you're dumb

    From Chester B. Arthur, on Mon 27 Feb 5:16

  2. Wayne who ?

    From lean machine, on Sun 26 Feb 7:10

  3. Why does everything always relate back to Luis Suarez­ just shut up about Luis Suarez OK MR whoever writes­ this OK???

    From Jacob, on Sun 26 Feb 5:24

  4. to magick post 22 does that also include glen johnson­ you arse

    From david, on Sun 26 Feb 2:23

  5. STEADY ON !! IF THEY DONT GIVE IT HIM HE MIGHT HANG­ HIMSELF !!!

    From magick, on Sat 25 Feb 23:49

  6. as a lfc fan i must discount gerrard as when we have a­ game and need him he keeps having to fake injury and­ make us and himself look like @#$%s when he turns out­ for lfc the very next game !! remember the run up to­ south africa,so obviously he have to admit himself as­ do all lfc fans will if we are honest ,we don t give­ a flying f*ck about england!!

    From magick, on Sat 25 Feb 23:47

  7. I DON'T THINK SO !!! DIDN'T HE WEAR A TEE SHIRT­ SUPPORTING A RACIST !! ALL LFC PLAYERS SHOULD BE BANNED­ FROM ENGLAND DUTIES TILL THE RACISM STORM IS SORTED OUT­ TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S SATISFACTION !!

    From magick, on Sat 25 Feb 23:41

  8. Gerrard doesnt need an England top, but that Top sure­ needs him.
    Oddly no one mentions Gerrard sticking up­ for Luis suarez as being detrimental to his chance of­ being England captain.
    I guess thats Paul parkers next­ Article.
    Stick 2 fingers up to the FA and refuse to­ captain the team.
    Its a joke position anyway, the teams­ led by the manager and fans who support.
    Let Rooney­ captain the team, maybe it will instill a modicum of­ maturity in his jug eared head.

    From Paul, on Sat 25 Feb 22:35

  9. Gerrard the great thing about Liverpool, Rooney, the­ bad it of Liverpool.

    From a fed fan, on Sat 25 Feb 20:59

  10. Rooney could not lead a horse to water, never mind his­ country

    From tastybits, on Sat 25 Feb 20:33

  11. Well Wayne you certainly won't ever captain your­ country. Elbow someone in the head off the ball with­ the whole world looking on, has ruled you out for sure.

    From a fed fan, on Sat 25 Feb 19:51

  12. there's no need to bring up suarez again! geez!

    From rockergirl, on Sat 25 Feb 19:46

  13. Paul Parker was a tit and still is one.

    From skoal.bandit,,, on Sat 25 Feb 19:36

  14. Is this scousers sticking together? I love scousers.

    From skoal.bandit,,, on Sat 25 Feb 19:31

  15. I would have though Paul Parker would have picked the­ team

    From Caroline, on Sat 25 Feb 18:52

  16. Rooney is right, Gerrard should be the captain, and­ I'm, a Manchester United fan. It's well known­ that Rooney and Gerrard are the best of friends anyway­ so Rooney is only showing his support.

    From quatt47, on Sat 18 Feb 23:18

  17. comment 2 @ bob the nob you dimwit

    From cf, on Fri 17 Feb 2:05
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    rooney on drugs again

    From cf, on Fri 17 Feb 1:23

  19. England just need to leave Terry & Ferdinand out,­ far too slow as we have seen recently. Leaving Rooney­ out who is only 26 would be stupid to say the­ least.Wilshire, Jones, Smaling, Johnson, Hart,Walker,­ Welbeck, Ox Chamberlin,Sturridge. We have some very­ good young players who need time to develop and come­ through the system. Who ever said England don't­ produce good players need to have a good visit to the­ neurology department at their local DGH.....

    From JASON, on Tue 14 Feb 18:40

  20. I would not have Rooney in the team fact.He will never­ be a leader of men ,you need to know when to be hard­ and when a quiet word is as good as a shouted one,After­ euro 2012 Scott parker will be a future captain he has­ what it takes,pjh1

    From The clever one ., on Mon 13 Feb 2:09
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