Kyle Walker confirmed as one of five Manchester City captains

Kyle Walker confirmed as one of five Manchester City captains after vote by players and staff as 33-year-old defender vows to ‘lead by example on and off the field’

  • Captaincy to be shared after former captain Ilkay Gundogan left the club
  • The Manchester City defender, 33, has worn the armband this season
  • Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’

Kyle Walker has confirmed that he is one of five Manchester City players to have been elected to captain the club as part of a senior leadership group following a vote by players and staff.

The 33-year-old, who has worn the armband this season, confirmed that the captaincy will be shared between a five-man leadership group after former captain Ilkay Gundogan vacated the armband when he left the club to join Barcelona. 

Speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League opener against Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday, Walker told the Athletic: ‘The captain’s vote has come in and five captains have been chosen. We will lead the team for the foreseeable season and make sure that everyone is in check and fines are paid up.

‘It (wearing the captain’s armband) is something that I have been very honoured to do. It has been a privilege to lead this special group of players out.

‘I will continue to do that and hopefully lead by example on and off the field to make sure that we are lifting trophies come the end of the season.’

Defender Kyle Walker has been confirmed as one of five Manchester City captains

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Man City boss Pep Guardiola has stuck by the England full back after his off-the-field indiscretions. 

In 2020, Walker apologised to City fans for flouting lockdown rules.

Walker was twice caught in breach of Government social distancing rules in recent weeks, once by entertaining a call girl at his flat and then by visiting his mother and sister in Yorkshire.

Last year the club decided not take any action after he was filmed allegedly exposing himself in a bar in Wilmslow, Manchester on a day off. 

Walker penned a new two-year extension this summer after being convinced to stay by Guardiola.

‘I’m thrilled to sign a new deal,’ Walker said. ‘My future is with Manchester City and that is the best thing for me.

‘I’ve enjoyed every single moment of the past six years at this fantastic club. I have an amazing coach, great team-mates and staff and our fans are the best. I feel supported on every single level.

‘The Treble-winning season is one I will never forget and we’re ready to go again and try to win more trophies.

‘The lads have got that hunger again to go and achieve something really special again this season, fingers crossed. I wanted to be a part of it and I didn’t want to miss out on that.

‘Us captains have got to demand that. We’ve set the bar and each year about it’s how do you get better? How do we get better? We seem to be doing that each year.

‘We’ve probably gone to the top of the top where, to stay there, there is only down because are we going to go and win a Treble again? Who knows? You know, we could do.’

The defender recently penned a new contract to keep him at Manchester City until 2026

The England international has won five league titles at City since joining them in 2017

The England international, who scored a first goal for his country against Ukraine last weekend, recently admitted that a switch to Bayern Munich was ‘very close’ this summer but that his preference was always to remain at the Etihad Stadium.

Walker cost £45million from Tottenham and has been one of the best signings of Guardiola’s tenure, with sporting director Txiki Begiristain adding: ‘He is an outstanding footballer and his speed, strength and experience make him such an important member of our squad.

‘For me, he is the best right-back in the world, a player with a unique set of attributes. He brings a very special dynamic to our team.

‘Kyle has been a huge part of our recent success, and we are confident that he will help us compete for trophies in the upcoming seasons.’

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