Richard Keys Calls for Captaincy Change for England National Team
Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys has ignited debate by suggesting England needs a new captain, proposing a change from current skipper Harry Kane.
Keys, known for his outspoken football opinions, even at 67 years old, has not held back in his assessment of Kane’s recent performances and leadership.
The beIN Sports anchor previously delivered a harsh critique of the England forward’s Euro 2024 showing, claiming Kane “stunk the place out” despite leading the Three Lions to the tournament final.
In a blog post following the Euros final, Keys elaborated on his strong views stating, “Kane stunk the place out… He had to be carrying an injury surely? He couldn’t have been as bad as he was unless that was the case.”
Continuing his critique, Keys questioned Kane’s continued selection: “I’m sorry to say it – but it’s got to be over for him. With the likes of Toney and Watkins available, why persist with Kane? Perhaps England could go in a different direction and not play with a traditional nine? Maybe Bellingham could do a job at the top end? That way you get more ‘players’ in the team.”
Despite Keys’ past criticisms, Harry Kane’s goal-scoring prowess has continued unabated. He has impressively scored 32 goals and provided 11 assists in just 37 appearances for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich this season, reaffirming his status as a top striker.
However, these impressive stats haven’t swayed Keys’ opinion. He recently reiterated his stance, asserting that not only does the England team need a fresh captain, but even Kane’s club side, Bayern Munich, should consider a change in leadership.
“New era – so England need a new captain,” Keys declared in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, making his position unequivocally clear.
Harry Kane is England captain (Credit:Getty)
Who Should Captain England? Keys Suggests Replacements for Harry Kane
Expanding on his call for change, Richard Keys named his preferred candidates to take over the England captaincy from Harry Kane. He believes it’s time for a shift in leadership for the national side.
- Declan Rice: Keys stated, “I’d go [Declan] Rice now.” He sees Rice as the immediate successor to Kane, believing he possesses the leadership qualities needed for the role.
- Jude Bellingham: Looking to the future, Keys added, “[Jude] Bellingham next.” This indicates he views Bellingham as a future captain, possibly after Rice, suggesting a longer-term leadership plan.
Keys rationale for replacing Kane is blunt: “Kane’s race is run. He’s too closely associated with another failed era. I’m not sure I’d even start him but Tuchel will for a few games.” This comment suggests Keys views Kane as symbolic of past disappointments for England, despite acknowledging Kane’s club manager, Thomas Tuchel, is likely to continue playing him.
It’s worth noting that despite individual trophy cabinet being bare, Harry Kane has presided over a period of significant success for England. Under his captaincy, the national team has achieved its best tournament results since England’s 1966 World Cup victory, including:
- Reaching the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
- Captaining England to the Euro 2020 final.
- Leading the team to the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals.
Furthermore, Kane’s personal achievements for England are undeniable. He is the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer with an impressive 69 goals, surpassing Wayne Rooney’s previous record by a significant margin of 16 goals (Rooney scored 53 goals).
Adding another layer to the discussion, Harry Kane recently expressed feeling “taken for granted” in a press conference on Friday. He voiced that his consistent goal-scoring achievements might be undervalued.
“People take it for granted and maybe a little bit with England as well,” Kane explained. “I’ve scored 69 goals and when you score against Albania or Latvia, or these teams, people just expect it so it’s not spoken about so much. If I was 25 now and doing what I’m doing, the excitement around me would maybe be a little bit different to what it is now. That’s part of where we are with football. I’ve seen it with some other players as they get into their 30s.”
Richard Keys’ comments and Harry Kane’s recent statements have set the stage for a fascinating debate about England’s captaincy. Is it time for a change, or should Kane continue to lead the Three Lions?
What do you think? Should England consider a new captain? Join the conversation and share your opinion below!