Southgate may end defunct role of captain

Southgate was a club captain during his playing career (AP)

The Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is considering the unusual step of withdrawing the role of captain.

Southgate said that football was not like cricket, where the captain has a say in tactics and personnel. "I've not made a final decision on whether I will resolve the captaincy issue on a permanent basis," Southgate said.

"I've looked at other sporting teams who have not had one person who they nominate as a captain and, in some cases, it seems to have worked well.

"I think it's more important that you have five or six leaders in your squad who are the 'tribal elders', and who lead the dressing room and set the standards of what's expected. We have people in the dressing room who do that, whether they wear the armband or not."