The search for an England captain

Sven-Goran Eriksson could do far worse than consult Terry Butcher for his opinion about the qualities required in a future England captain. During a 77-cap international career spanning a decade, Butcher played alongside a score of England skippers,

Trevor Cherry led the team out when Butcher made his debut in 1980, but in those days Kevin Keegan was the regular captain. Ten years later Butcher was playing in a World Cup side full of England captains - Peter Shilton, Mark Wright, Bryan Robson, Stuart Pearce, David Platt, Gary Lineker and Peter Beardsley.

Butcher himself had the distinction of leading the England team that lost that epic penalty shoot-out to West Germany in the 1990 World Cup semi-final in Turin. The job should have been Robson's, but he was injured. The manager, Bobby Robson, had a clutch of ready-made replacements and chose Butcher, who had been a youngster with him during his Ipswich days.

"I captained the team seven or eight times and considered it a huge honour. For me the single most important factor is that the captain must have the respect of his team-mates. So it obviously helps if he has been in the team for some time and has established his place in the pecking order.

"Respect for captains such as Bryan Robson and Gary Lineker was automatic. I think it must have been the same in Bobby Moore's day. He was probably the best of us all."

Moore, who led England to victory in the 1966 World Cup, and Billy Wright each captained England 90 times. Such longevity is unheard of in the modern game. Keegan had the armband for 29 matches, Emlyn Hughes for 23.

Since Moore retired at the end of his 108-cap career in 1973 there have been 29 England captains though some, like Phil Neal or Beardsley, had the job for just one match.