Every club has a captain, a leader, and the one person who was voted in either by appointment or election. He orchestrates and issues commands on the field of play and serve as a role-model off the pitch. Basically, captains are seen as leaders; it doesn’t matter the age or experience but your zeal, tenacity, hardwork, dedication and commitment to both the team and the club; characteristically, gives you the armband.
Very few persons possess such qualities, most times; the captain of the team is given to the person/persons as the case may be who, carry the load and burden of the team.
However some coaches give the armband to their standout and best player,
most preferred player or the one person who bails the team out of
difficult games on the pitch, as in the case of Dunga and Neymar.
Sometimes, the strikers, most often, the defenders, rarely, the goalkeepers and preferably, the midfielders.
Whichever position you occupy but so long you’re wearing the captain’s armband, you’re a symbol, an icon, an egghead, a mentor and experience personified to your teammates.
We have seen different captain’s commitment on and off the pitch, to defend and fight for their team. He carries his team mates along. For Chelsea, John Terry comes to mind.
No wonder, Stephen Gerrard will not be forgotten so easily by the Liverpool faithful. To them, he was their demi-god. The 2005 UCL finals will forever remain in their memory. Gerrard was referred to as “Captain Fantastic”, he was worshiped, adored and cherished; till date he is still respected, irrespective of his retirement from football. That brings us to the main point of the discussion.
Is Sergio Ramos the new “Captain Fantastic”?
Sergio Ramos actually became captain in the 2014 season after Casillas was transferred to Porto; since then, the rest they say is history.
Ramos has been a reflection of a leader, a leech-pin for the Real Madrid team. Forget the genius of Cristiano Ronaldo, the brilliance of Gareth Bale, the marauding form of Karim Benzema and the likes, Ramos has always popped up when it matters most and his heroics is beginning to catch the fancy of Real Madrid fans all over the world.
Sergio Ramos is not only showing leadership qualities at Real Madrid, he has exercised his leadership even at the Spanish National Team, and he has been commanding the backline and organizing the team in general since the absence of Casillas.
Ramos is not a player that gets you the numbers but for a defender, his numbers are amazing. He is one of the high scoring defenders in football. Not too many of them but he will make the cut in a list of 5.
Notwithstanding the fact he has more career red-card and his brutality on the pitch has cost his team most times; he has always saved the moments with his magic.
16-10-2012: FRANCE VS SPAIN
Ramos’ goal gave Spain the Qualification spot for the 2014 World Cup after they played out a 1-1 draw.
2013 UCL: REAL MADRID VS ATLETICO MADRID
Ramos scored the equalizer in the 94th minute of 5mins added time that forced the game to extra-time which, eventually, Madrid went on to win the game. Thanks to goals from Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. They won the UCL, their 10th [La Decima] under manger Carlo Ancelotti.
2016 UEFA SUPER CUP: REAL MADRID VS SEVILLA
Ramos gave away a penalty during the game but went ahead to make amends as he scored the equalizer in the 93rd minute that saw Madrid draw 2-2 to force the game into extra-time. What next? Madrid was crowned champions…all thanks to Ramos.
LA LIGA 2016 EL CLASSICO: Barcelona was winning after Suarez’s header in the 53rd minute. It took the messiah in the 90th minute to draw level and they went on to savage a point that kept their 6points lead over Barcelona in the league alive.
LA LIGA 2016 REAL MADRID VS DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA:
Madrid were losing 2-1 at home at some point, Alvaro Morata’s goal equaled the scoreline and as they say: “Cometh the hour, Cometh the man”, Ramos in the 93rd minute scored a smashing header that gave Madrid all 3points to sustain their lead against fierce rivals Barcelona at the top of the table before their trip to Japan for the club world Cup.
Following his heroics, is it now fair to say categorically, Ramos has earned the right to be referred to as “Captain Fantastic”?
He pops up at the right time when it matters most to rescue his team. Rarely, do you get to see players “defenders” do such magical things for their teams.
Chelsea had Didier Drogba [Striker], Barcelona had Ronaldinho [Midfielder], and Liverpool had Steven Gerrard [Midfielder].
Ramos is writing his name in the hearts of Madrid faithful, no wonder he is the defender with the most appearance(6) in the FifPro gala XI.
IS SERGIO RAMOS, THE NEW “CAPTAIN FANTASTIC”?
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Man, you've so much wrong in this article (fact wise). I'm not debating any of your opinions, because I do agree that he is Captain Fantastic. However, your mistakes are irritating in that they make me think you're not as well informed as you think you are. They are: In 2013, when Ramos scored in the 94th minute, Real Madrid had won their TENTH (not 11th) Champions League. It is called "La Decima", but that's the 10th. Two years later, they won the 11th "La Undecima". Real Madrid had scored first in that game, and the goalscorer was Captain Fantastic. In 2016 El Classico, Suarez scored in the 54th minute, not 73rd. And Ramos equalized in the 90th, not 84th minute. First mistake could've been a typo, but I have no idea where you got the numbers for that El Classico. Completely wrong.
ReplyDeleteWe sincerely apologize for the errors. It wasn't intentional. We are not here to apportion blames but we will look into it and review.
DeleteThanks for your comments.