Bu Jacob Maddaford
Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson intends to take her time in finding a permanent replacement for Sophie Ingle as captain.
Wilkinson has confirmed that Jess Fishlock will be skipper when they face Kosovo in Podujevo on Tuesday in their second Euro 2025 qualifier, but the recently-appointed Canadian boss will not name a permanent captain for “a little while”.
Fishlock is set to earn her 150th cap, but there is still doubt over whether she will be the long term captain after Wilkinson confirmed she plans to trial a number of candidates over the next few games.
“Jess will wear the armband for tomorrow’s fixture, and then I won’t name a permanent captain for a little while after,” said Wilkinson.
“I think that’s a big call and there are a lot of potential captains on this team. I could name so many.
“Different people will wear the armband as we get to know each other, just so we can work out what do you want your leader to be?
“From my side, without knowing everyone, I want to take my time to make sure I make the correct decision on this.”
Jess Fishlock will captain Wales in their Euro 2025 qualifier in Kosovo as she becomes the first Welsh player to reach 150 caps.
Fishlock takes the armband from Sophie Ingle after she decided to stand down as Wales skipper ⚽️#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/kxukmJGg8a
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) April 8, 2024
These comments have led to speculation over who will take over as long-term captain.
Fishlock remains the obvious candidate, as she is Wales’ most-capped footballer of all time, including male players, and is set to become only the fifth British footballer to reach 150 international caps.
The 37-year-old discussed what it means to her to reach this milestone and said: “For me, it’s not really at the forefront of my mind because we have a game tomorrow and I need to be focused on that.
“After the game, I’ll be flooded with loads of emotions that I will need to try and regulate.
“That’s the reality of it. I need to be focused on this game and nothing else.
“I was playing for Wales before I was a professional, it’s been there right from the beginning. It’s been my rock”
“I left home at a really young age, and I have played all over the world, but Wales has always been there.
“Throughout my career, it’s been a safe place for me where I can come and keep growing as a person and player.”
https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1777391812715393172
These comments have led to speculation about who will take over from Ingle, after the Chelsea player stepped down as Wales captain following the 4-0 victory against Croatia.
“I would’ve loved to have kept the armband, but I think it’s the right time, not just for me but the team as a whole,” Ingle said.
“I got given the captaincy at 23, when I thought I was nowhere near ready. I was a really shy girl who loved football.
“I want someone else to have that experience and grow in that role.”
Some other candidates that are expected to be in the run-in for the captaincy are Angharad James, ex-Tottenham and now of Seattle Reign, and Rachel Rowe, who currently plays for Rangers.
There are sure to be many other players who will want to prove themselves worthy of captaining their country, so Wilkinson definitely has a tough decision on her hands to select the next player to be the regular wearer of the armband.
https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1777362944780640426