Maya Le Tissier has been named the new captain of Manchester United for the 2024/25 season, taking over from Katie Zelem, who left the club during the summer. Le Tissier, a central defender, joined Manchester United two years ago from Brighton & Hove Albion and has quickly established herself as a key player in the team’s defense, known for her reliability and consistency.
Le Tissier expressed her excitement about the new role, saying, “It is an honor to be appointed captain of this wonderful football club, and I will wear the armband with great pride to help lead this squad to victory both on and off the pitch.” Her appointment follows the departure of former captain Katie Zelem, who had led the team since 2019. Zelem played a crucial role in helping Manchester United secure the FA Cup in May before leaving the club when her contract expired in June. She has since moved to Angel City FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States.
During her time at Manchester United, Le Tissier has delivered impressive performances. She has formed a strong defensive partnership with Millie Turner, contributing to a club record of 14 clean sheets in the Women’s Super League (WSL) during the 2022/23 season. Her defensive prowess was a significant factor in Manchester United finishing second in the league.
Le Tissier’s performances at the club level have also earned her recognition internationally. She received her first senior England call-up after the Lionesses won Euro 2022. Since then, she has made four appearances for the national team and was included in the standby list for the 2023 World Cup, traveling with the squad to Australia, although she did not play in any matches. Her international progress has been somewhat limited by England manager Sarina Wiegman, who prefers to use her as a full-back—the position Le Tissier played while at Brighton—rather than in her favored center-back role.
At the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, Le Tissier was named Manchester United’s joint Players’ Player of the Year alongside Ella Toone, who has now been appointed as the vice-captain of the team. Previously, Manchester United did not have an official deputy captain for Zelem, although Hayley Ladd often stepped in when Zelem was absent. Both Le Tissier and Toone are seen as pivotal to the club’s future success.
Le Tissier recently signed a new contract that will keep her at Manchester United until 2028. Toone, who holds the record as United’s all-time leading appearance maker and top scorer with 53 goals in 164 games, signed a contract in 2022 that runs until the end of the next season.
The decision to appoint Le Tissier as captain highlights Manchester United’s confidence in her leadership abilities and reflects her rapid ascent within the squad. She is expected to continue playing a crucial role in the team’s defense while guiding the squad towards further achievements in the upcoming season.