Ferdinand deserves chance to captain, says Lampard
FRANK LAMPARD believes Rio Ferdinand deserves the chance to captain England – even if it is at the expense of his Chelsea team-mate John Terry.
Ferdinand was handed the job of leading his country out at this summer’s World Cup after boss Fabio Capello stripped Terry of the captaincy following allegations about his private life.
Wayne Rooney was also in the frame, but Lampard believes the star striker should be spared the “burden” and insists Ferdinand is the ideal replacement.
“John and Rio are both big personalities,” Lampard said. “The captain has to be someone vocal and [Ferdinand] has always been a popular fellow in the dressing room and he is easy to get on with.
“The controversy of the changeover is unfortunate but now it has changed Rio deserves it and will give it a great crack.
“Wayne is our best player, to burden him with it at that age would have been the manager’s decision, but I think it is a good idea not to.”