Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate considers abolishing the ordinary captaincy system at the club and depending on several tribal elders to do the job between them. George Boateng is Boro s official captain this season but Emmanuel Pogtatez, Jonathan Woodgate and Julio Arca filled in the role throughout the season for various reasons. But Southgate, Middlesbrough s most successful captain of all time, ponders a new system that could give Mido an opportunity to be one of the skippers. I ve not made a final decision on whether I will resolve the captaincy issue on a permanent basis, Southgate was quoted as saying by The Northern Echo. 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. If you appoint a club captain, what happens if he gets injured in the first game of the season and he s out for a while? he wonders. After joining in the summer, Mido has been praised by Southgate for his presence and positive effect on the team. Mido s a character, he s got leadership qualities and he s a mature and intelligent lad, Southgate said back in August. You need players with his sort of character, with an edge, who ll stand there and say bring it on . I m impressed by his hunger and desire to play football. With such hints and one of this season s captains, Woodgate, already gone, the Egyptian international striker might find himself promoted to the rank of joint-leader should the new system be approved. Southgate went on to explain the benefits of the new system. I think it s more important that you have five or six leaders in your squad who are the tribal elders, the former England defender said. [Players] who lead the dressing room and set the standards of what s expected. We have people in that dressing room who do that, whether they wear the armband or not. Southgate believes also that having several senior players will lead to a sense of collective responsibility growing within the team. If you don t have one specific captain and instead have three or four senior players there, they can resolve any issues themselves, he said. Not having one individual in that position makes other people take responsibility for things, and that might help them to grow as people as well.
