Having watched a lot of football I’ve often wondered on this side of the Atlantic if the role of skipper is considered as important as what we tend to see in Europe for instance.
I think back to the great captains over there who bore enormous leadership influence on the pitch; Keane, Gerrard, Maldini, Baresi, Kompany, Terry, Totti, Hierro, Puyol and so on. I don’t quite see the same sphere of influence from the MLS captain, apart maybe from (whisper it here) Michael Bradley.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s an honorary responsibility in north America, but watching an MLS game, the player cast in the role of captain is often easily forgotten, or at least if you miss the pre-game formalities a mystery, although the armband should give it away.