​The vice-captain position at Manchester United has recently prompted a flurry of questions through our “Ask about Man Utd” form, and this particular topic is especially intriguing. The discussion centers on Bruno Fernandes, a fixture in the squad who rarely misses games and seldom gets substituted. When Fernandes missed three matches after an injury at Aston Villa last December, Lisandro Martinez, the Argentina defender, wore the armband. Since then, there has clearly been a managerial change, and the dynamics surrounding the leadership band have evolved accordingly.
During a moment when Fernandes was off the field, Harry Maguire wore the captain’s armband for a brief period in the 3-2 victory over Liverpool in May, after Fernandes had been substituted and replaced by Leny Yoro in stoppage time. This gesture carried particular significance because Erik ten Hag had previously stripped Maguire of the captaincy in favor of Fernandes. The mere fact that Maguire wore the armband against Liverpool is notable, especially given that he had previously declined leadership opportunities on other occasions.
Looking at the rest of the squad, Matthijs de Ligt brings further leadership pedigree, having captained Ajax as a teenager—the club’s youngest-ever skipper. Diogo Dalot also stepped in as captain when Fernandes was substituted off at Villa Park. Michael Carrick has not publicly shared his views on the matter; however, with Martinez and Dalot absent due to World Cup duties, Fernandes likewise away on international duty, and De Ligt sidelined by injury, Maguire emerges as the most plausible option to captain the team for the initial pre-season fixtures.
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