Bruno Guimaraes has proved to be an inspirational Newcastle United captain.
Leading by example, the midfielder covers more ground than pretty much any other player every season.
Even before he wore the armband he always took responsibility on the pitch. Always wanting the ball, always supportive of teammates.
I found it remarkable that some fans doubted the wisdom of Eddie Howe’s decision making when he gave Bruno Guimaraes the job of Newcastle United captain.
If anybody needed any further proof, it was delivered in the 2024/25 season as Newcastle United once again qualified for the Champions League and won a trophy. Bruno Guimaraes started all 38 Premier League matches and featured in six of the seven Carabao Cup games.
I think leaders are taken for granted and only really appreciated when they aren’t there.
You look at what happens elsewhere and for example the shambles at Tottenham despite all the massive advantages they have over all but a handful of the other Premier League clubs. Spurs finishing fourth bottom last season and looking on course to go one better this time. Where are their leaders? Their captain is Cristian Romero but his idea of leadership is recklessly charging around the pitch and making daft challenges that lead to regular red cards.
At Man U, Bruno Fernandes may be a very talented player but the way he behaves is a total embarrassment. Last season saw Man U effectively give up in many matches and no sign of their captain doing what needed to be done, they only avoided fourth bottom last season due to beating Villa on the final day of the season.
Over at Chelsea, the billions spent there and yet a team also lacking any recognisable leaders. Reece James is supposed to be performing that role but instead embarrasses himself and the club by insisting on these infantile attempts at intimidating the opposition by occupying the centre circle for their group huddles. When they lost to Newcastle United last month, they still went ahead and did this, despite the referee standing on the centre spot, Reece James telling his players to surround the ref. Could you imagine Bruno Guimaraes doing this????
The announcement at the weekend that Kieran Trippier will be leaving at the end of the season, brought leadership issues into focus even more. The first of many brilliant Eddie Howe signings, Trippier led the way not just in terms of encouraging other great players to follow, the England international was the consummate leader on the pitch as well. Whether wearing the armband or not, Kieran Trippier organising and encouraging those around him.
Kieran Trippier was the regular captain on the pitch throughout the 2022/23 season, United finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League, plus reaching the Carabao Cup final. Kieran Trippier also led Newcastle United to their best ever Premier League defensive performance, only Man City conceded as few goals as NUFC that 2023 season as Trippier started all 38 Premier League matches.
Something not rarely talked about, is that it wasn’t just the sheer quality of players that Eddie Howe brought in during his first ever NUFC transfer window, he also brought in three outstanding leaders and future Newcastle United captains.
Eddie Howe was ridiculed when he brought in Dan Burn during the January 2022 window but what a signing he has proved! Eddie Howe calling on the big lad from Blyth to be his Newcastle United captain when Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier have been missing at times. Like the other two, Dan Burn is a leader and organiser on the pitch whether or not he wears the armband. Thomas Tuchel also recognising those outstanding leadership qualities in making him a regular in his England squads.
Leaders make a difference on and off the pitch.
Newcastle United have achieved far more as a team than their individual parts would have suggested, that has been in no small part due to the character and example set by the leaders in this group of players, these three Newcastle United captains who have done such a superb job.
Plus of course Newcastle’s greatest leader of all, Eddie Howe.