Former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney has backed Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice as the clear next choice to lead England.
Rooney shared his thoughts while speaking on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show, where he reflected on Rice’s growing role at club and country level.
That match, played at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, caught Rooney’s attention for the control and drive Rice showed throughout the contest.
Rooney impressed by Rice’s display
Rooney believes Rice already shows many of the traits needed to captain England when the time comes.
“For me, he’s the one who’s probably waiting for Harry to hang up his boots at some point,” Rooney said.
He explained that Rice’s showing against Everton was another strong example of his influence across the pitch. Rooney felt the midfielder’s work often goes unnoticed because it is not always flashy or dramatic.
“He was all over the pitch [against Everton]. His decision-making – when to pass it, where to pass it, what foot to pass it to, his detail on his pass – it was a pleasure to watch. He was absolutely incredible.”
The former attacker also highlighted Rice’s tactical understanding and ability to shift roles during the match.
“He was splitting centre-backs, taking the ball off [Arsenal’s] centre-backs, acting as a third centre-back, then next minute he’s in the box, trying to score a goal. Sometimes, some of the stuff he does is a bit underrated.”
Leadership qualities stand out
Beyond his club form, Rooney feels Rice already carries himself like a senior figure in the England setup.
He pointed to Rice’s personality and attitude as major reasons why he should be next in line.
“He’s the right one to take over [Kane] for me, because [of] his drive, his personality. Everyone seems to love him, who knows him, who’s close to him. He’s irreplaceable for England.”
Rice has already gained experience wearing the armband for England in recent years. He captained the side during a 2-2 draw with Belgium in March 2024, showing calm under pressure.
The midfielder also led England to a 3-0 victory over Wales in October this year. Those appearances came during the absence of current captain Harry Kane.
Rice has now earned 72 senior caps, underlining his importance to the national team.
