Edmonton-raised soccer star Alphonso Davies named captain of Canadian men’s national team

By Phil Heidenreich Global News

Posted June 17, 2024 11:04 am

Updated June 17, 2024 2:11 pm

1 min read

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Click to play video: 'Soccer skills of Alphonso Davies raises Canada’s World Cup hopes'

2:16 Soccer skills of Alphonso Davies raises Canada’s World Cup hopes

WATCH ABOVE: (From Oct. 14, 2021) With Alphonso Davies on the roster, Canada may finally have the soccer star it needs to make the team's World Cup dreams a reality. Eric Sorensen reports on Davies' journey to the top, and how his skills are gaining international attention. – Oct 14, 2021

One month after becoming the new head coach for the Canadian men’s national soccer team, Jesse Marsch has revealed that Edmonton-raised Alphonso Davies will become the team’s new captain.

“Alphonso is a young and experienced professional who has all the tools to be an excellent captain,” Marsch said in a news release issued Monday. “He has been in the spotlight from a young age and handled it very well.

“I know that he is up to the challenge of taking on a more expanded role with more responsibility.”

Canada forward Alphonso Davies (19) jogs up field after taking a shot in the second half of a CONCACAF Nations League Play-In soccer match against Trinidad And Tobago, Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Frisco, Texas. AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Stephen Eustàquio, a midfielder who hails from Leamington, Ont., was named vice-captain.

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“Stephen is also a great leader who has already formed a partnership with Alphonso, along with the leadership council, that will lead us into a home FIFA World Cup in 2026,” Marsch said.

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Davies, 23, has been named Canada Soccer Player of the Year four times in his career already. He has accumulated 48 senior international appearances.

Eustàquio has played 37 times for Canada’s senior team and is the most recent Canada Soccer Player of the Year.

Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio (7) runs with the ball during the second half of a CONCACAF Nations League Play-In soccer match between Trinidad And Tobago and Canada, Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Frisco, Texas. AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Davies plays professionally in Germany as a fullback with the iconic soccer club Bayern Munich. He wore the captain’s armband earlier this month when Canada played a friendly against the Netherlands — Marsch’s first match as Team Canada’s coach.

Eustàquio plays professionally in Portugal with FC Porto.

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Monday’s announcement comes ahead of Copa America 2024 which gets underway in the United States this month. Canada is set to play against Argentina on Thursday.

–With a file from The Canadian Press