Ferdinand says Rooney the man to lead England
LONDON: Wayne Rooney has what it takes to succeed Steven Gerrard as captain of England, Rooney’s former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand has said.
The job of England skipper is available after Gerrard’s retirement from the international scene.
Other contenders being considered by manager Roy Hodgson are thought to be goalkeeper Joe Hart and defender Gary Cahill, but Ferdinand said yesterday that Rooney was the right man.
“I think Wayne has grown and he is growing into that role,” said Ferdinand, who captained England for 13 months from February 2010.
“He’s experienced now, he has played at the top level and he’s won a lot of things. He knows the game. He’s got the right tools for that. And I think you have to look at who is going to start.”
Rooney has scored 40 international goals since making his debut as England’s youngest player against Australia in February 2003.
The 28-year-old’s underwhelming performances during the first round of the World Cup in Brazil, when England were knocked out, came under heavy scrutiny but he answered some of his critics with a second-half goal in the defeat to Uruguay.
“You look at other countries, the natural progression would be Wayne getting it now,” Ferdinand said.
“With other countries it’s usually the guy with the most caps, or who is most influential.
“And I think Wayne is the most influential player that England have got at the moment, now that Steven has gone.
“It would seem like a natural progression.”
With Gerrard gone, the pressure on Rooney to deliver will only increase, but Ferdinand said that wearing the armband should not be a burden.
“With the captaincy, especially in England, we maybe go a bit overboard on it,” he said.
“You need as many leaders out on the pitch as you can get.
“You need people to lead by example, not just on the pitch but off the pitch.
“Hopefully we have got a few in there that can do that.” – Sapa-AFP