Haaland's Goal-Scoring Prowess Makes Him a Questionable Choice for Man City Captain

Manchester City is rebuilding its leadership group after Bernardo Silva and John Stones left. Erling Haaland is among the top contenders, but manager Enzo Maresca has disclosed a special guideline that could disqualify the Norwegian forward from being the best choice for captain.

The summer of 2026 marks a major transition at Manchester City. Not only is Pep Guardiola leaving the coaching role after a decade of success, but the Etihad side is also bidding farewell to two influential players, Bernardo Silva and John Stones, after the 2025/26 season.

Bernardo's departure leaves a particularly significant void in leadership. The Portuguese midfielder served as Manchester City's captain last season, while Stones was also among the most experienced players in the dressing room.

Therefore, one of the tasks new manager Enzo Maresca must address before the new season is restructuring the captaincy. Erling Haaland naturally comes to mind as a candidate.

The Norwegian striker is not only one of Manchester City's biggest stars but also has an increasingly influential voice in the dressing room. According to Maresca, Haaland was even among the first players to message him after the Italian was appointed to replace Guardiola.

However, during a conversation with The Athletic in Seoul, Maresca laughed when asked about the possibility of giving Haaland the captain's armband. The reason stems from a rather peculiar rule he previously implemented at Leicester City and Chelsea.

“When we score a goal, the captain must run to the technical area, not celebrate, to receive instructions. But if the captain himself scores, he can celebrate. If Erling is the captain... we have a problem. Can you imagine?”, explained Maresca.

Behind the somewhat humorous remark lies a clear tactical idea. The period immediately after a team scores usually creates a natural pause. The goal scorer and teammates run to the corner to celebrate, before both teams return to their positions for the kickoff.

The former Chelsea manager wanted to exploit that exact moment. Instead of letting the captain join the celebration, he instructed the armband wearer to run straight to the technical area. There, the coach can quickly convey changes in pressing, formation positions, or issues to note when the game resumes.

“Even if it's just two or three minutes, there's always something that needs adjusting,”said the Club World Cup-winning manager.

The captain thus acts as a bridge between the coach and the remaining players on the pitch. Maresca even tested this approach during the pre-season. In the victory over the K-League All Stars, Ruben Dias wore the captain's armband, and after Man City scored the first goal, the Portuguese defender immediately ran to the coaching area to receive instructions.

In the current Man City squad, Ruben Dias, Haaland, and Rodri are all part of the leadership group. Maresca stated that he still wants to add one more person and will personally select the captains, rather than simply inheriting the previous system.

Rodri's case is uncertain, as the future of the Spanish midfielder is becoming a major topic in the transfer market. Barcelona is currently pursuing Rodri, while Man City has also prepared midfield reinforcements in case he leaves.

This further leaves the Man City captain's armband up for grabs. Ruben Dias is emerging as a natural choice due to his experience and defensive role, while Phil Foden could also be considered since Maresca wants at least one English player in the leadership group.