Parker wants Three Lions captaincy job for good
TOTTENHAM midfielder Scott Parker intends to keep hold of the England armband and lead the national side at this summer’s European Championships after he captained his country for the first time in Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat against Holland at Wembley.
Parker, 31, was controversially chosen by caretaker boss Stuart Pearce to captain the side ahead of the vastly more experienced Steven Gerrard and goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has been earmarked as a potential future skipper.
Despite being passed over, Gerrard was among the first to congratulate Parker (right) on his appointment and the former West Ham and Chelsea battler hopes Wednesday’s experience will prove to be more than just a one-off.
“Steve was fine. He was the ultra-professional he is,” Parker said. “He was the first person to come up to me and congratulate me and said he’d support me. That was pleasing. You wouldn’t expect anything else from such a great player.”
Asked if he would like to keep the armband, Parker added: “Of course I would. I also understand there’s a many a player – no-one more than Steven Gerrard and a couple of others – who’ve obviously been there before and done it.
“It’s going to be difficult for me but I would obviously relish the chance to lead the country out again and take it into the Euros.
“Whether that’s me or it’s not me, I know I’ll be fully behind whoever it may be, determined to make England succeed.
“It was pretty special experience, really, a very proud moment for me and something as a kid I dreamed of many a time.”