Newcastle United entered the final stretch of preseason without a permanent captain after Bruno Guimaraes completed his £75 million move to Arsenal earlier this month.
Matthias Jaissle had spent his opening games experimenting with the armband, handing it to Malick Thiaw, Joelinton and Jacob Murphy at different times while assessing the leadership options remaining in the squad following a summer of considerable change at St. James’ Park.
On Saturday, Newcastle officially ended the uncertainty about
who will lead the team on the pitch, announcing Dan Burn as its new Magpies captain.
“It’s an absolute honour to be named captain of Newcastle United,” Burn said. “It’s always an immense privilege to represent this football club, especially when I have been trusted with the armband on previous occasions, but to lead the team on a permanent basis is going to be really special.”
Jaissle subsequently confirmed Joelinton as the team’s vice-captain, with Thiaw and Murphy completing a four-player leadership group as co-captains of the team for the 2026/27 season.
The announcement marks another milestone in Burn’s remarkable career since joining Newcastle. The 34-year-old, a boyhood supporter of the club, joined from Brighton in January 2022. He’s helped the Magpies qualify for the Champions League twice and, most importantly, was a key piece in helping Newcastle end its lengthy domestic trophy drought.
Jaissle emphasized Burn’s leadership qualities and connection with the club when explaining the appointment.
“Dan is a natural leader and a perfect fit for the role of Newcastle United captain,” Jaissle explained. “He puts the interests of the team ahead of his own every time he steps onto the pitch and always gives maximum commitment in everything he does.”
The appointment comes at a particularly important moment given Newcastle’s significant turnover, with the trio of Bruno, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon having all departed this summer, leaving Jaissle to acknowledge there was a leadership “vacuum” in Tyneside.
Is Burn the right choice to lead Newcastle into the Jaissle era given he’ll likely have a lesser role and fewer minutes this season? What do you make of the rest of the new four-man leadership group? Share your thoughts below.
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