Maya Le Tissier has been named the new captain of Manchester United for the 2024/25 season, taking over from Katie Zelem, who departed in the summer.
The centre-back joined Manchester United from Brighton & Hove Albion two years ago and has quickly become a key player in the defense.
“It is a privilege to be named captain of this great football club, and I will proudly wear the armband to help guide this team to success both on and off the pitch,” she stated.
Zelem, who led the team to FA Cup victory in May, stepped down after her contract ended the following month. She had held the captaincy since 2019 and has since joined Angel City in the NWSL.
Le Tissier enjoyed a standout couple of seasons, forming a strong partnership with Millie Turner and helping United achieve a WSL record of 14 clean sheets in the 2022/23 season, where they finished in second place.
On the international stage, Le Tissier received her first senior England call-up after Euro 2022 and has made four appearances. She was on standby for the 2023 World Cup and traveled with the squad to Australia but did not play. The 22-year-old’s international prospects have been somewhat hindered by Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman’s preference for her as a full-back, a position she played at Brighton, rather than as a centre-back.
At the end of the 2023/24 season, Le Tissier was named joint Players’ Player of the Year for United, sharing the honor with Ella Toone, who will take on the role of vice-captain. Previously, there was no designated deputy for Zelem, though Hayley Ladd often wore the armband in Zelem’s rare absences.
Le Tissier has signed a new contract extending to 2028, while Toone had already agreed to a similar deal in 2022, lasting until the end of the next season. Toone is also United’s all-time leader in both appearances and goals, with 53 goals in 164 matches.
