With Jamie Carragher retirement only a few games away Liverpool are looking at losing more than just one of the best defenders to ever put on a red shirt, they're losing one of the best back-line leaders in the game.
Along with close friend and Captain Steven Gerrard, both are graduates of Liverpool's academy system and together they have tackled the footballing world – experiencing the highs and lows side-by-side. Both are icons of both the club and city they may well be the last of their kind.
Liverpool's final game of the season against QPR will be an emotional event as it’s the final time Carragher will take to the grass of Anfield in front of a home crowd cheering him for the full 90 minutes in unison.
Carra's retirement does leave Brendan Rodgers with a bit of a headache though, apart from needing to find another centre back (Martin Skrtel doesn't seem to man he once was), Rodgers needs to name a new vice-captain who can take over the reins and fill Carragher's 'leadership boots'.
Below are four possible candidates to take up the vice captain's armband.
Pepe Reina
Perhaps most fans choice, over the years he has amassed a glittering trophy haul with both the club and his native country (double European Championship and World Cup Winner) and he has a love for Liverpool which is proudly expressed in his recent autobiography.
He's loved at the club by both fans and fellow players alike and is a huge character and was earmarked to be a future captain by Gerrard himself in 2009.
He's currently in his 8th year at the club which behind Carragher and Gerrard, he’s the longest serving player at Liverpool and when fit he starts which is a necessity for anyone who has the ambition to hold the armband.
Daniel Agger
Agger has become a cult figure at Liverpool amongst supporters. Fans are excited when he's on the ball as he's a technically gifted player and has a great love for all things Liverpool (tattooing YNWA on his knuckles being a prime example).
He's spurned the advances of Manchester City last year and signed a new deal at the club last autumn.
Agger is a classy and passionate player who is comfortable bringing the ball and launching attacks from his own half. After shaking off injuries that plagued his last few seasons he has become a mainstay in the reds defence.
Like Reina he's had a few issues with form recently and seems to require another leading player alongside him to bring out his best.
But he does currently hold the captains armband for Denmark and is never one to shy away from voicing his opinion and regularly gets involved with officials.
Jordan Henderson
This may come as a shock to some, but if you think about it Henderson is a prime choice for the vice captains armband.
He currently leads his country out at U-21's level and he plays alongside the current reds captain in the centre of the park.
It’s almost like Steven Gerrard is grooming Henderson and teaching his ways so a step up to the vice captains armband would be a huge confidence boost for the young man.
Luis Suarez
The final and most realistic choice follow in Carragher’s footsteps is Luis Suarez. Yes he is controversial, but he has the talent and passion to be a natural leader.
Suarez has already displayed his leadership qualities (incase you didn’t notice), he took up the goal scoring burden at the early part of the season and did a fine job on his own.
His play and movement has an effect on almost every game and its laid bare for all to see.
Handing him the armband could also be a classy move by Brendan Rodgers that could tempt him to prolong his Anfield career and spearhead a return to Europe’s elite.
Suarez did captain the reds in the FA Cup defeat to Oldham and has also skippered at his former club Ajax and Uruguay at last summer’s Olympic Games.
He may not be the obvious leader the reds need, but he is without doubt our best player and the man on whom we look towards to turn games around.
Having regularly stated his affection for Liverpool he would cherish the role and perhaps have one eye on succeeding Gerrard himself. Handing him the vice captaincy could prove a brave and inspired move.
Source: DSG
