Last 7 FA Cup Winning Captains: Where Are They Now?

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I’ve been asked to look at the last 7 FA Cup winning captains for a while now, but I wanted to save it for the day itself. Depending on Pep Guardiola and Javi Gracia’s team selections today, either Vincent Kompany or Troy Deeney are likely to be the captains lifting the trophy in the 138th FA Cup final, the oldest competition in world football.

There are, perhaps, few greater honours in the English game, but how have the careers of the last 7 players to do so panned out since then?

Here are the last 7 FA Cup winning captains: Where are they now?

7. Gary Cahill – Chelsea

Still contracted to Chelsea but not for long, it’s been a tough final season for the Englishman under Maurizio Sarri at Stamford Bridge. Having lifted the FA Cup as the Blues captain in his final act under Antonio Conte, Cahill has made just 2 league appearances and only 8 in all competitions under Sarri this season. It’s a sad end to eight very successful seasons for Cahill in a Chelsea shirt, where he has been a fine servant and formed a terrific centre-back partnership alongside John Terry. Cahill may well follow in Terry’s footsteps upon his Chelsea departure too, with rumours that the 33-year-old could join Aston Villa in the summer.

6. Per Mertesacker – Arsenal Academy Manager

Manager of the Arsenal Academy Per Mertesacker speaks at the Arsenal Foundation Night to Inspire Charity Ball at Emirates Stadium on April 25, 2019 in London, England.

A two-time FA Cup winning captain in 2015 and 2017, and one-time winner not as captain in 2014, it would be fair to say Per Mertesacker and Arsenal have had a good relationship with the FA Cup. A World Cup winner in 2014, Mertesacker joined Arsenal in 2011 and spent seven years playing for the club – although he barely featured in his last two campaigns. The towering German centre-back called time on his playing career at the end of the 2017-18 season, and was immediately announced as the new Arsenal Academy manager.

5. Wayne Rooney – DC United

Moving onto the 2016 FA Cup final, which proved to be Louis van Gaal’s final game as Manchester United manager, and his captain that day was club legend Wayne Rooney. Manchester United and England’s all time leading goal scorer, Rooney’s time at Old Trafford came to an end the following summer, when he signed off on a return to Everton. He spent just a single season back at Goodison, and is now into his second season in the MLS with DC United, where he has been nothing short of a revelation.

4. Mikel Arteta – Man City Assistant

Mikel Arteta, Assistant Coach of Manchester City celebrates with a member of backroom staff after the FA Cup Final match between Manchester City and Watford at Wembley Stadium on May 18,…

We skip the 2015 final since the winning captain was Per Mertesacker once again, and instead turn to another Arsenal title in 2014. Despite having gone two goals behind to Hull City, Arsenal fought back and broke Hull City hearts through an Aaaron Ramsey winner in extra-time. Fellow midfielder Mikel Arteta was the club’s captain that day, and the 37-year-old Spaniard hung up his boots in 2016 to become Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.

3. Emmerson Boyce – Street Soccer USA Ambassador

The last great FA Cup final upset, Roberto Martinez guided Wigan Athletic to a shock 1-0 win over Man City in the 2013 FA Cup final, in the same season that the Latics were finally relegated from the Premier League. Long-time servant Emmerson Boyce was the club’s captain, and the experienced Barbadian was a key cog in a Wigan defence which kept a clean sheet against the likes of Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez. Boyce called time on the playing side of the game in 2016, and the 39-year-old now works as an ambassador for Street Soccer USA, a non-profit organisation promoting grassroots soccer in America.

2. John Terry – Aston Villa Assistant

John Terry assistant coach of Aston Villa celebrates victory in the penalty shoot out after the Sky Bet Championship Play-off semi final second leg match between West Bromwich Albion and…

The second FA Cup winning captain turned assistant manager in this seven, John Terry only brought an end to his career last summer. The Chelsea legend captained Chelsea to glory in the 2012 FA Cup final, which was one of six FA Cup titles that he won with the Blues. He left Chelsea for Aston Villa in 2017, but retired after a single season in which the club lost in the Championship play-off final to Fulham. He returned to Villa in October 2018 after Steve Bruce got the sack, becoming Dean Smith’s assistant manager.

1. Carlos Tevez – Boca Juniors

Our final inclusion, taking us back to the 2011 FA Cup final, is former Man City striker Carlos Tevez. The 2011 FA Cup was a huge moment for Manchester City, as it was their first trophy following Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2008, and it gave them a real platform for the extraordinary success that has followed. A stubborn Stoke City side marshalled by Tony Pulis provided the opposition, but a single strike by Yaya Toure proved to be the difference. Carlos Tevez captained the Sky Blues that day, and the 35-year-old Argentine star is now in his third spell with Boca Juniors.