With Ter Stegen sidelined and Hansi Flick taking a more active role, a new captaincy hierarchy is on the way.
As FC Barcelona prepares for the 2025/26 La Liga season, the team is also getting ready for another important decision: selecting the official captaincy group. While the final vote will still come from the locker room, new coach Hansi Flick is expected to play a bigger role than his predecessors.
Current Captaincy Order (2024/25 Season):
- Marc-André ter Stegen
- Ronald Araújo
- Frenkie de Jong
- Raphinha
- Pedri
Voting Expected Soon – Without Ter Stegen?
Like every year, the captaincy vote will be held before the season starts. Last year, it took place on August 23rd, but this year it’s likely to happen earlier — potentially during the Asia tour or immediately after the squad returns to Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.
There’s one key change: Marc-André ter Stegen is recovering from back surgery and didn’t travel to Asia with the team. If he’s not present during the voting or early training sessions, his place as captain could be in jeopardy.
For the opening preseason match against Vissel Kobe, it was Raphinha who wore the armband, having been the fourth in the hierarchy last season.
Flick to Have a Say — Even If Players Vote
While players will cast the official votes, Hansi Flick’s opinion will carry weight. According to internal club sources, the German manager has been granted the authority to influence the decision if he feels a different leader is better suited for the team on and off the field.
This marks a shift in internal operations, part of Flick’s effort to bring a more structured and focused culture to the club.
Flick’s New Rules Behind the Scenes
Since arriving at Camp Nou, Flick has already introduced several professional discipline protocols:
- Media duties only after training, never before.
- Stricter focus during preparation periods.
- Active influence on squad hierarchy — including promoting Joan García as first-choice goalkeeper, and reportedly pushing for Ter Stegen’s departure.
Who Will Wear the Armband?
Several scenarios are in play:
- Ter Stegen keeps his status despite being injured.
- Araújo or De Jong take on a more prominent leadership role.
- Pedri, viewed as a long-term face of the club, gets elevated.
- Or Raphinha, who already led the team during preseason, gets more recognition.
Whatever happens, the decision will be made before the La Liga kickoff in mid-August, and it may say a lot about Flick’s vision for the future of this Barça squad.
