Captaincy Conundrum: Milan's Rotating Armband and Fonseca's Shared Leadership Vision

In a surprising move, Milan manager Paulo Fonseca has embraced a unique approach to team captaincy this season, entrusting the armband to multiple players. While some absences have played a role, Fonseca's vision for a more "shared leadership" has led to a captaincy carousel that has seen five different players don the coveted armband in the first ten games.

Empowering the Team: Fonseca's Captaincy Philosophy

Fonseca's captaincy philosophy is a departure from the traditional model, where the armband is typically reserved for the most experienced or senior players. The Milan manager has made it clear that he wants to "respect" the established order, where the captains are the players with the most games, but he also wants to foster a "shared leadership" that extends beyond a single individual.This approach is likely driven by Fonseca's desire to empower the entire team and cultivate a sense of collective responsibility. By rotating the captaincy, he is sending a message that leadership is not the exclusive domain of a single player, but rather a shared responsibility that should be embraced by the entire squad.

Captaincy Carousel: The Five Wearers of the Armband

As highlighted by Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan have had five different captains in the first ten games of the season. This captaincy carousel has seen a diverse range of players don the armband, each bringing their unique leadership qualities to the table.

Mike Maignan: The Goalkeeper's Perspective

The latest addition to the captaincy list is French goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who was given the armband amid the absences of Davide Calabria and Theo Hernandez, as well as the benching of Rafael Leao. While Maignan has always been a leader for the team, the role of captain can be more challenging for a goalkeeper, as they are often required to communicate with the referee during the game.

Davide Calabria: The OG Captain

Davide Calabria, the original captain, has only worn the armband three times this season (against Torino, Parma, and Liverpool) due to a drop in the pecking order and injuries. Despite his reduced playing time, Calabria remains an important figure in the team and a respected leader.

Fikayo Tomori: The Captaincy Experiment

Fikayo Tomori was given the captaincy for the full 90 minutes against Lazio at the Olimpico, but the experiment did not go as planned, as Milan conceded twice in the game. This highlights the challenges that can arise when entrusting the armband to a player who may not have the same level of experience or authority as the more established leaders.

Theo Hernandez: The Consistent Captain

Aside from Calabria, Theo Hernandez is the player who has worn the armband the most, with a total of four times. However, the left-back is currently suspended in the league, and it remains to be seen if he will don the armband again when Milan face Club Brugge in the Champions League.

Rafael Leao: The Emerging Leader

Like Maignan and Tomori, Rafael Leao has only worn the armband for 90 minutes, and that was against Lecce. The game ended 3-0, and Leao provided a great assist for Hernandez, showcasing his growing influence on the team.The captaincy carousel at Milan is a testament to Fonseca's desire to foster a shared leadership culture within the team. While some players have had more experience with the armband than others, the rotation of the captaincy has the potential to empower the entire squad and create a stronger sense of collective responsibility.As Milan navigate the challenges of the season, it will be interesting to see how Fonseca's captaincy experiment evolves and whether it ultimately pays dividends for the team's performance and cohesion.