Teddy Sheringham was today made captain of Tottenham Hotspur for the coming season by manager Glenn Hoddle. The England striker, who returned to the club for a second spell after a transfer from Manchester United during the summer, will take over the armband from Sol Campbell, who moved to Arsenal during the close season. Fellow striker Les Ferdinand and midfielder Tim Sherwood have both been made vice-captains.
Hoddle revealed that he chose Sheringham because he feels the striker has a good football brain and will be able to get his message across to the rest of the players. "For me, the role of captain is more important than a lot of people in football think it is. I see the captain as someone who can become an extension of the coaching staff, and who can identify things on the pitch. In rugby, the captain and management relationship is a close thing and that's how we have to develop," he said.
"Teddy has the respect of the other players. He is intelligent and has a football brain, he is a thinker. It is all an extension of your own thoughts, what you are working for. It will be an interesting challenge for Ted as a player, and it will be an eye-opener if he wants to stay in football in the future," he added.
Sheringham was delighted to have been asked to take over the responsibility. "I am very pleased to be named captain," said Sheringham. There are a lot of experienced players here and hopefully we can all help each other. I am not going to say that I'll have a particular style, in case it backfires on me. I'll just do the best I can."
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
