Five players De Zerbi could turn to as Tottenham captain for final six games

Tottenham are running out of leaders at the worst possible time, and with injuries stripping the squad bare, Roberto De Zerbi may now be forced into bold decisions as he looks for a new voice to guide Spurs through their final six games. We have now identified five players he could turn to as Tottenham captain.

A lot has been said about what Tottenham Hotspur need to do if they are to avoid the drop this season. There have been calls for the players to show more fight, while questions have been asked about the leaders in this group, who have often failed to step up to the challenge.

Cristian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies and James Maddison are members of the Spurs leadership group, but they have barely done anything to prevent this season’s slump.

In the defence of a few, however, like Maddison and Davies, injuries have hindered their ability to help on the pitch, but for the rest, they simply have not been good enough.

Romero, the club captain, is now sidelined for the rest of the season, joining Vicario, Davies and Maddison, leaving Spurs to turn to other players in the final stretch of the campaign.

We have now identified five players Roberto De Zerbi could turn to as Tottenham captain for the final six games of the Premier League season.

Micky van de Ven can naturally step into Spurs captain role

With van de Ven, it is the natural move to turn to him to lead the group in the absence of many other leaders.

He is currently part of the leadership group, which has been decimated by injuries, making him the next to pull on the armband for the remainder of the season.

It is not unfamiliar territory for the Dutchman, who has captained this Tottenham side several times already this campaign in the absence of Romero.

In fact, in the last game against Sunderland, he took the armband when the Argentine went off injured, so it makes sense for Roberto De Zerbi to turn to him for the final stretch of the season.

Pedro Porro offers leadership through example for Spurs

While not part of the leadership team, Pedro Porro is one of the few others who count as a leader within this Tottenham side.

In the game against Sunderland, he showed a desire to lead by example as he looked to force the issue in the final third when nothing was working for Spurs.

He is also one of the few who has spoken in these trying times for the club. Porro revealed that he knows how it feels to be a fan of Tottenham and expressed a desire to improve things on the pitch.

This season, the Spaniard has pulled on the armband once, and if De Zerbi is looking for a fresh voice, he remains an option.

Archie Gray could emerge as a surprise Tottenham captain choice

Archie Gray is another player De Zerbi could turn to, even if he is one of the youngest in this Tottenham side.

The Englishman represents a player who leads by example, as he remains one of the more consistent performers for Spurs this season.

He has stepped up in midfield, showing a willingness to take responsibility in his play, never shy to demand the ball.

At times this season, Gray has even spoken like a leader, calling on his teammates to step up as they look to beat the drop.

Making him captain – or giving him a leadership role – will be welcomed by many fans who have praised Gray’s performances and see him as a future Spurs captain.

Solanke even stated that Archie has become one of the leaders in the Tottenham dressing room, highlighting how much of an influence he is becoming.

We do believe Gray’s performances this season could see him reach the same feat Lucas Bergvall managed last term.

Conor Gallagher brings the captaincy experience Tottenham need

The signing of Conor Gallagher was seen as one where Tottenham brought in a player with a wealth of experience.

When you look at his CV, it is hard to argue against that, given the amount of football he has played at the top level for sides fighting at different levels, including teams gunning for Champions League places and sides battling relegation.

Gallagher also has experience as a captain, having worn the armband for Chelsea at times when former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino was in charge.

That exposure to leadership makes him a good fit for Spurs in this difficult moment. He was also at West Brom at one point in his career, where they fought to stay in the division, and such experience could come in handy as a leader at Tottenham.

Rodrigo Bentancur’s return could boost Tottenham’s leadership

Rodrigo Bentancur has only just returned to first-team training after three months out with injury and is set to be a big part of the final run of games.

Many Spurs fans believe Bentancur could be crucial, as he brings calmness and composure in midfield, particularly with his press resistance – something that has been lacking in his absence.

Not only are his on-field qualities needed, but his return could also bring leadership to this squad, given his experience at both club and international level.

Bentancur has featured in several competitions for Uruguay, including Copa America tournaments and World Cups. He has also captained Tottenham in the past, doing so in 2024 in an FA Cup clash against Burnley.

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