Youri Tielemans has been handed the Belgium captaincy, but the decision has already divided opinion. National boss Rudi Garcia confirmed on Monday that the Aston Villa midfielder will permanently wear the armband, praising his leadership qualities and influence in the squad.
But not everyone is convinced. Belgian legend Philippe Albert told Le Soir that it is “a very surprising choice”, pointing out that Tielemans is not a guaranteed starter at club level and has hardly been undisputed for the Red Devils either.
Albert Questions the Appointment
Albert made no attempt to hide his scepticism over the selection:
“If he’s not a starter at Aston Villa, what do we do with the Devils? Rudi Garcia has just made a very surprising choice in my opinion by giving the captaincy to Tielemans. Logically, in Lukaku’s absence, the coach should have turned to De Bruyne or even Courtois.” — Philippe Albert, via Le Soir
The former Newcastle defender argued that the role should have gone to one of Belgium’s most experienced figures, not Tielemans, who is 28 but still fighting for minutes at Villa under Unai Emery.
Tielemans Reacts With Pride
For Tielemans, however, the call represents one of the highlights of his career.
“It’s one of the biggest honours of my career to be captain of Belgium,” he said. “It’s a proud moment for me and my family, and I want to repay the trust shown by the manager and my teammates.”
Tielemans Stats Snapshot (Aston Villa 2024/25 Season)
| Stat (2024/25) | Tielemans |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 53 |
| Goals | 5 |
| Assists | 10 |
| Chances Created | 63 |
| Pass Accuracy | 87% |
source: sofascore match data – 2 September 2025
Despite strong numbers, Tielemans often rotated at Villa and has faced similar competition at international level.
Analyst Verdict — John William
Tielemans’ captaincy is both a gamble and a signal of change. Garcia is clearly prioritising influence in the dressing room over club form, trusting Tielemans’ ability to connect with teammates.
Yet Albert’s criticism resonates — leadership usually goes to nailed-on starters. Albert probably didnt follow Youri and Aston Villa because he has been a starter since last year.
Key Insights
- Tielemans named Belgium’s new permanent captain by Rudi Garcia.
- Philippe Albert calls it “a very surprising choice.”
- Lukaku, De Bruyne and Courtois overlooked.
- Tielemans is a guaranteed starter at Aston Villa.
- Midfielder calls it one of the biggest honours of his career.
What’s Next for Tielemans?
Tielemans will lead Belgium into World Cup qualifiers this month under Garcia’s new-look setup, carrying the responsibility of proving Albert wrong with his performances on the pitch. At Aston Villa, he has already started all three Premier League games this season, showing Unai Emery’s trust in his ability to dictate midfield play.
The real challenge now is consistency. If Tielemans can translate his Villa form onto the international stage, he will silence doubts over whether he is the right long-term leader for Belgium.
Can Youri Tielemans prove Philippe Albert wrong and show he deserves the Belgium captaincy?
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 4 Sep 2025 12:32
That Phillipe Albert or who ever that guy is havent seen him play for Villa... He has started all 3 games this season and played a lot of games last season, what do you mean with he's not even a starter?!?!
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