Leadership in Action: Top Ten Sports Captains

Leaders are found in almost every part of society, and many of the qualities are the same across them all.  Being a sports fanatic, I love to learn leadership lessons from great athletes and team captains.  It didn’t take me long to come up with this list of all-time greats, to teach us how to win – on the field, on the pitch, in the classroom, in our businesses or jobs.

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Sam Warburton is a Welsh rugby union player.  When he was just 22, he stood in for the then captain, Matthew Rees, who had suffered a neck injury.  Sam led Wales into the World Cup in that season. Wales entered the cup matches as underdogs, but Sam took the team to the semi finals, where he was controversially sent off for a dangerous tackly in the 18th minute.  Wales went on to narrowly lose the game, this is what happens when you are without a leader. This sending off caused an outrage everywhere, no one could believe the call. Sam is known to be a man of few words, but leads by example, that is why he is in the top 10 captains of all time.

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People may not like him, but he was an amazing team captain. The Argentine footballer won the world cup with his country. He was also one of the best footballers the world has ever seen. He is not liked much in the UK because of his famous ‘Hand of God’ which sent England crashing out of the world cup. There is no denying that he was a truly inspirational captain.  Diego really hates losing.  His fierceness and effort to avoid loss at all costs is one of the driving factors leading him to score so many goals and keep his team on their toes.

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Brian Lara is regarded as one of the best cricketers of all time.  From the West Indies, he successfully captained his country to many victories that went down in the record books. He was influential to his team mates by breaking many personal records. He kept pushing himself to be better even when he was the best. Brian is one of the most well known figures of cricket, partially because a set of cricket computer games have been named after him. Because of his hard work, and refusal to quit, he goes in at number 8.

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David Beckham is probably the most famous figure in football, the things he has done on and off the football field have inspired many of us.  Despite the fact that England didn’t win any major silverware while he was captain, Beckham was so influential around the world that he had to come in at number 7.  He increased the profile of football around the world and his celebrity status brought even more fans to the game.  He must not be forgotten as a great player though, his curling free kicks mesmerized fans and won games, which is why Beckham is in the top 10 captains of all time.

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The Irish rugby player has been said to be one of the greatest players ever, and he has lead Ireland to many great wins over the years.  He has led both the British and Irish Lions rugby teams. O’Driscoll has led his country and club to World success and will remain a rugby Legend and an icon of leadership.  He is said to ‘lead by example’

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Puyol captains the best club in the world. Enough said.

Love it or hate it, F.C. Barcelona, the current World Cup holder,  is the greatest club in the world right now, and the Spanish footballer is vice captain of the team. We know he’s a great player, but he is best known for his influential leadership, an icon to the Spanish people. Puyol has been so successful and goes down in the record books and also down at number 5.

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He has just won the Rugby World Cup 2011 with the best team in the world, what can you say. He has been the all blacks captain for a while and finally his moment has come. The New Zealander has won the Rugby player of the year a record number of times, and leads New Zealand (the All Blacks) out on the field every match to win. He inspires his team, that is why he is so great. Without Richie, the All Blacks struggle. He is already legend status and his career is not even over yet.

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Thierry Henry is a french footballer who has captained France and Arsenal.  He has led both to many successes and people regard him as one of the best strikers ever. Arsenal fans still worship him for how he led the club and he has been such a football icon to the whole world that he has to go on to the podium, getting the bronze award. Thierry Henry is a role model at number 3.

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Martin Johnson lead England to a Rugby World Cup victory over Australia in 2003. He was hailed as a great leader and one that not only led by example but inspired his team, especially on that night in Sydney, where he carried the ball forward so that Matt Dawson could set up Jonny Wilkinson for the famous drop goal that won England the World cup. Martin Johnson is an icon to all and now is head coach of the England rugby team. He gets on the podium with the silver award at number 2.

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Bobby Moore led England to their first and only (so far) Football World cup win in 1966, here on home soil in  England. He was a great leader and an influential person.  We simply can’t get better. Sadly, Bobby died in 1993, but he remains a legend and a hero. He goes top of the podium with the gold prize at number 1 as the Best Captain of all time.