There are captains and there are captains. Some inspire loyalty by putting their bodies on the line, others perform with consistent brilliance or demonstrate great tactical acumen, like Andrew Strauss during the Ashes. Some, like Ricky Ponting, sulk, shout at umpires and behave like petulant schoolgirls. He could learn a thing or two from these iconic captains on Vision Sport
Bobby Moore
They don’t make footballers like Moore these days. Not only did he captain England to World Cup glory he did it with style and humility. While he was gallantly wiping his hands clean before accepting the Jules Rimet trophy from the Queen today’s players would be frantically phoning their agents trying to negotiate a pay rise. “£2.9300,000 a week? You’re having a laugh, I’m a World Cup winner.”
FIFA World Cup Official Film 1966
FIFA World Cup Official Film 1970
FA Cup final 1975: West Ham v Fulham
Martin Johnson
England’s rugby colossus had no time for the trappings of modern celebrity. He was never likely to be caught tumbling out of a nightclub with a model on his arm – although that may have something to do with his resemblance to Frankenstein’s monster – and found talking to the press as enjoyable as taking a bath in sulphuric acid. His glare was renowned and, combined with a brow so knitted it was practically a scarf, left everyone in the side clear where they stood – exactly where Johnson wanted them to.
IRB World Cup final 2003: England v Australia
IRB World Cup 2003: England v France
IRB World Cup 2003: England v Wales
IRB World Cup 2003: England v South Africa
IRB World Cup 2003: England v Samoa
IRB World Cup 2003: England v Uruguay
Tony Jacklin
Until 1985 the US were so dominant in the Ryder Cup they could have played with both hands behind their backs, using only their teeth to grip the clubs, and still won. Then Tony Jacklin took over the European team and everything changed. Admittedly he happened to take up the captaincy at an opportune time – just as golfing geniuses such a Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros burst on to the scene – but he still had to mould them into a winning team. In 1985 his side took the trophy for the first time in 28 years, repeating the dose two years later.
Classic Ryder Cup action on Vision Sport
Allan Border
Australia do gritty cricket captains better than barbeques and Border was the grittiest of the lot. He led the side through some lean times in the 1980s but slowly transformed their fortunes, winning back the Ashes in 1989, introducing Shane Warne to test cricket and laying the foundations for years of Aussie domination. By rights every Englishman should hate him, but really we just wish he’d been born over here.
Legends of Cricket: Allan Border
Rhona Martin
It’s a dangerous thing, leading a team full of women armed with brooms. If all goes wrong and mutiny takes hold they could quickly become deadly weapons. But Rhona Martin managed it with ease as Great Britain women’s curling captain. Despite her sport getting as much press coverage as a lost cat in Eastbourne she persevered, eventually taking her team to gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Britain’s first since Torvill and Dean in 1984. The newspapers certainly took notice then.
