Leeds United standout Ethan Ampadu has the chance to demonstrate his suitability as Daniel Farke’s potential new captain, having been entrusted with the captain’s armband for Wales’ game against Slovakia.
Wales’ official account confirmed that Ampadu would lead the team against Slovakia on Sunday, marking the culmination of a strenuous season for the 23-year-old.
Since joining Elland Road last summer, Ampadu has amassed 54 appearances for Leeds United. In the absence of Liam Cooper and Pascal Struijk, he took on the role of captain for several matches, including the Championship play-off final against Southampton at Wembley. With Cooper potentially departing the club, Ampadu emerges as a strong candidate to assume the captain’s armband on a full-time basis.
The Leeds United captaincy has been held by Cooper since 2017, with the 32-year-old leading the team to the Premier League as Championship winners in 2020.
Ein Capten 🫡@ethanamp26 will lead the team out in Slovakia tomorrow night.#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/8gypkGfUgT
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 8, 2024
However, Cooper’s playing time has been limited, making just 15 league appearances in the 2023-24 season. Ampadu, along with Struijk and Joe Rodon, have been preferred by manager Daniel Farke as the club’s primary centre-backs.
Leeds recently released their list of retained players for the 2024/25 season, indicating negotiations with Cooper regarding a contract extension. However, irrespective of Cooper’s future at the club, Ampadu is likely to feature prominently in the defense lineup.
Having played every minute of Leeds’ Championship campaign and missing out on the play-off final trophy alongside Cooper, Ampadu’s consistent presence strengthens his claim to the captaincy.
As he leads his country against Slovakia, Ampadu can be assured that if he remains at Elland Road, the captain’s armband could become a permanent fixture.