List of Spain national football team captains explained

Men's team

Captain chronology

The captains of the Spain men's national team since 1913:

NameSpanTournaments as captainReserve captains
1913
1920 Summer Olympics 1920Mariano Arrate (1920)
1921–1923Paulino Alcántara (1921–22)
Josep Samitier (1922–23)
1923
1924
1924-1928Summer Olympics 1924
Summer Olympics 1928
Josep Samitier (1924–25)
José María Peña (1925)
Ricardo Zamora (1927–28)
José Maria Yermo (1928)
1928–1936World Cup 1934 qualifying
World Cup 1934
José María Peña (1930)
Josep Samitier (1931)
Jacinto Quincoces (1934–36)
1936
1941
1942
1945–1946
1947
1947
1948–1949
1949–1950World Cup 1950 qualifying
World Cup 1950
Agustín Gaínza (1950)
Telmo Zarra (1950)
1950–1955World Cup 1954 qualifyingAntonio Puchades (1954)
Marcelino Campanal (1955)
1955–1956
1959–1962
European Nations Cup 1960 qualifying
World Cup 1962 qualifying
World Cup 1962
Antoni Ramallets (1955, 1960–61)
Marcelino Campanal (1957)
Luis Suárez (1960)
László Kubala (1961)
Paco Gento (1961–62)
Enrique Collar (1961)
1957–1958World Cup 1958 qualifyingJosé María Zárraga (1958)
1962–1963European Nations Cup 1964 qualifyingFeliciano Rivilla (1963)
1963
1965–1969
World Cup 1966
Euro 1968 qualifying
World Cup 1970 qualifying
Ignacio Zoco (1966–69)
Jesús Glaría (1966–69)
Severino Reija (1966–67)
Gallego (1968–69)
Pirri (1968)
1964–1965 European Nations Cup 1964
World Cup 1966 qualifying
Amancio1970–1974Euro 1972 qualifying
World Cup 1974 qualifying
Luis Aragonés (1970)
Pirri (1971)
Gallego (1972)
Isacio Calleja (1972)
Luis Suárez (1972)
Tonono (1972)
Juan Sol (1973)
Txetxu Rojo (1973)
José Claramunt (1973)
1974–1975Carles Rexach (1974)
Juan Manuel Asensi (1978)
Pirri1975–1978Euro 1976 qualifying
World Cup 1978 qualifying
World Cup 1978
Juan Sol (1976)
Quini (1978)
Juan Manuel Asensi (1978)
1978–1980Euro 1980 qualifying
Euro 1980
Vicente del Bosque (1978–80)
Eugenio Leal (1978)
Quini (1979)
Migueli (1979)
Dani (1980)
Carlos Santillana (1980)
1980–1985 Tour of South America (1981)
World Cup 1982
Euro 1984 qualifying
Euro 1984
José Antonio Camacho (1983–1984)
1985
1985–1988 World Cup 1986 qualifying
World Cup 1986
Euro 1988 qualifying
Euro 1988
Víctor Muñoz (1985–88)
Rafael Gordillo (1987–88)
1988–1992 World Cup 1990 qualifying
World Cup 1990
Euro 1992 qualifying
World Cup 1994 qualifying
Andoni Zubizarreta (1989–91)
Manolo (1990)
José Mari Bakero (1992)
Míchel (1992)
1992–1994 World Cup 1994 qualifyingAndoni Zubizarreta (1993–94)
Txiki Begiristain (1993)
Fernando Hierro (1993)
1994–1998 World Cup 1994
Euro 1996 qualifying
Euro 1996
World Cup 1998 qualifying
World Cup 1998
Fernando Hierro (1994–96)
Miguel Ángel Nadal (1994)
Abelardo Fernández (1998)
1998–2002 Euro 2000 qualifying
Euro 2000
World Cup 2002 qualifying
World Cup 2002
Sergi Barjuán (1998–2001)
Luis Enrique (1999)
Abelardo Fernández (2000–01)
Miguel Ángel Nadal (2002)
2002–2006 Euro 2004 qualifying
Euro 2004
World Cup 2006 qualifying
World Cup 2006
Gaizka Mendieta (2002)
Santiago Cañizares (2003)
Joseba Etxeberria (2004)
Iker Casillas (2004–06)
Fernando Torres (2005)
2006–2016 Euro 2008 qualifying
Euro 2008
Conference Cup 2009
World Cup 2010 qualifying
World Cup 2010
Euro 2012 qualifying
Euro 2012
Conference Cup 2013
World Cup 2014 qualifying
World Cup 2014
Euro 2016 qualifying
Euro 2016
David Albelda (2006)
Carles Puyol (2007–13)
Xavi (2007–14)
Joaquín (2007)
Xabi Alonso (2008–13)
Sergio Ramos (2010–16)
Fernando Torres (2012)
David Villa (2012)
Andrés Iniesta (2014)
Cesc Fàbregas (2015–16)
2016–2021 World Cup 2018 qualifying
World Cup 2018
Nations League A 2018–19
Euro 2020 qualifying
Nations League A 2020–21
David Silva (2016)
Andrés Iniesta (2017–18)
Isco (2018)
Raúl Albiol (2019)
Sergio Busquets (2020–21)
Koke (2020)
2021–2022 Euro 2020
Nations League A 2022–23
Nations League Finals 2021
World Cup 2022 qualifying
World Cup 2022
Jordi Alba (2021)
César Azpilicueta (2021)
Koke (2021–22)
Álvaro Morata (2022)
2023 Nations League Finals 2023
Euro 2024 qualifying
Álvaro Morata (2023)
Rodri (2023)
Álvaro Morata2023–Euro 2024 qualifying
Euro 2024
Jesús Navas (2023–2024)
Rodri (2024)
Mikel Oyarzabal (2024)

Captains by appearances as captain

Caps as of 14 July 2024

PlayerSpain careerCaps as captainTotal capsFirst captaincyAge
1 Iker Casillas2000–20161041673 September 2004
2 Sergio Ramos2005–2021541803 June 2010
3 Andoni Zubizarreta1985–19985012611 October 1989
4 Luis Arconada1977–1985486824 September 1980
5 Raúl González1996–20064210218 August 1999
6 Fernando Hierro1989–200232892 June 1993
7 Emilio Butragueño1983–1992316914 September 1988
8 Ricardo Zamora1920–1936244617 April 1927
José Antonio Camacho1975–19888121 December 1983
10 Sergio Busquets2009–2022201437 October 2020
11 Agustín Gaínza1945–195519332 April 1950
12 Pirri1966–1978184117 October 1968
13 Álvaro Morata2014–158026 March 2022
Joan Segarra1951–19622527 November 1955
Francisco Gento1955–19694311 June 1961
16 Amancio Amaro1962–1974144211 February 1970
Juan Manuel Asensi1969–19804124 May 1978
18 Ferran Olivella1957–1965101811 March 1964
Xavi Hernández2001–201613322 August 2007
20 Jesús Garay1953–196592910 March 1957
21 Josep Samitier1920–193182117 December 1922
22 Abelardo Fernández1991–20017543 June 1998
Xabier Alonso2003–201411418 June 2008
24 Epi Fernández1941–194961521 March 1948
Enrique Collar1955–19631613 November 1961
José Claramunt1968–19752321 October 1973
Rafael Gordillo1978–19887526 May 1985
Koke Resurrección2013–20227011 November 2020
29 Pedro Vallana1920–19285122 September 1920
Víctor Muñoz1981–19886018 March 1985
José Mari Bakero1987–1994309 September 1992
Jordi Alba2011–20239314 June 2021
33 Jacinto Quincoces1928–19364251 June 1934
Ignacio Eizaguirre1945–19521812 June 1949
Antoni Ramallets1950–19613518 May 1955
Jesús Glaría1962–19692023 October 1966
Severino Reija1962–1967207 December 1966
Miguel Ángel Nadal1991–20026210 June 1994
Sergi Barjuan1994–20025618 November 1998
Carles Puyol2000–201310017 October 2007
41 José María Belauste19203328 August 1920
Mariano Arrate1920–1923629 August 1920
Paulino Alcántara1921–192359 October 1921
Guillermo Gorostiza1930–19411912 January 1941
Ramón Gabilondo1941–1942515 March 1942
Juan Antonio Ipiña1936–1946611 March 1945
Ignacio Zoco1961–19692520 July 1966
Francisco Gallego1966–1973362 May 1968
Quini1970–19823529 March 1978
Andrés Iniesta2006–201813112 October 2014
Francesc Fàbregas2006–201611031 March 2015
52 José María Peña1925–19302214 October 1925
José María Yermo1927–192851 June 1928
Marcelo Campanal1952–19571119 June 1955
Luis Regueiro1927–19362526 April 1936
Luis Suárez1957–19723226 October 1960
Juan Cruz Sol1970–1976282 May 1973
Vicente del Bosque1975–19801813 December 1978
Txiki Begiristain1988–19942231 March 1993
Luis Enrique1991–20026213 November 1999
Gaizka Mendieta1988–19944016 October 2002
Fernando Torres2003–20141103 September 2005
David Silva2006–201812512 November 2016
Rodri Hernández2018–5628 March 2023
Jesús Navas2009–5616 November 2023
66 César Rodríguez1945–195211226 January 1947
Eduardo Herrerita1934–194762 March 1947
Telmo Zarra1945–19512016 July 1950
Antonio Puchades1949–19542314 March 1954
José María Zárraga1955–1958815 October 1958
László Kubala1953–1961192 April 1961
Feliciano Rivilla1960–19652613 June 1963
Luis Aragonés1965–19721110 November 1970
Isacio Calleja1961–19721323 May 1972
Tonono Alfonso1967–19722219 October 1972
Txetxu Rojo1969–19781817 October 1973
Carles Rexach1969–19781520 November 1974
Eugenio Leal1977–19781421 December 1978
Migueli Bernardo1974–19803214 November 1979
Dani Ruiz-Bazán1977–19812526 March 1980
Carlos Santillana1975–19855618 June 1980
Manolo Sánchez1988–19922826 May 1990
Míchel1985–19926614 October 1992
Santiago Cañizares1993–20064630 April 2003
Joseba Etxeberria1997–20045331 March 2004
David Albelda2001–20085111 October 2006
Joaquín Sánchez2002–2008516 June 2007
David Villa2005–20179814 November 2012
Isco Alarcón2013–20193818 November 2018
Raúl Albiol2007–20215815 October 2019
Marc Cucurella2021–108 June 2021
César Azpilicueta2013–2022445 September 2021
Mikel Oyarzabal2016–3722 March 2024

Women's team

Captain chronology

The captains of the Spain women's national team since 1971:

NameSpanTournaments as captainReserve captains
Conchi Sánchez1971–1981 Trofeo dell'Adriatico (1972)
Inmaculada Castañón1983–1988 1987 European Competition qualifying
1989 European Competition qualifying
Mercedes Gaitero (1984)
Ángeles Olmo (1985)
Montserrat González1989–1990
Eli Artola1990–1991 Ixiar Bakero (1991)
Ixiar Bakero1991–1994
Beatriz García1995–1996 Grand Hotel Varna Tournament 1995
Euro 1997 qualifying
Tournament Slovakia (1996)
Arantza del Puerto1996–2005 Euro 1997
World Cup 1999 qualifying
Euro 2001 qualifying
World Cup 2003 qualifying
Euro 2005 quilifying
Torneo de Maspalomas (2005)
Judith Corominas (1998)
Mar Prieto (1998)
Yolanda Mateos (1998–2000)
Maider Castillo2005–2007 Raquel Cabezón (2007)
Itziar Gurrutxaga2007–2008 Vanesa Gimbert (2008)
Melisa Nicolau (2008)
Vanesa Gimbert2008
Melisa Nicolau2008–2010 Sandra Vilanova (2009–10)
Sandra Vilanova2011–2013 Euro 2013 qualifying
Euro 2013
Adriana Martín (2011)
Ruth García (2012)
Verónica Boquete (2013)
Verónica Boquete2013–2017 Ruth García (2014–16)
Sonia Bermúdez (2015–17)
Marta Torrejón (2015–17)
Irene Paredes (2016)
Amanda Sampedro (2017)
Marta Torrejón2017–2019 Euro 2017
World Cup 2019 qualifying
Cyprus Cup 2018
Algarve Cup 2019
World Cup 2019
Irene Paredes (2017–19)
Amanda Sampedro (2018)
Victoria Losada (2018)
Alexia Putellas (2019)
Virginia Torrecilla (2019)
Irene Paredes2019–2022Euro 2022 qualifying
SheBelieves Cup 2020
World Cup 2023 qualifying
Arnold Clark Cup 2022
Euro 2022
Jennifer Hermoso (2020–22)
Amanda Sampedro (2020)
Dolores Gallardo (2021)
Alexia Putellas (2021–22)
Ivana Andrés (2021)
Ivana Andrés2022–2023 Cup of Nations 2023
World Cup 2023
Esther González (2022–23)
Irene Guerrero (2023)
Olga Carmona (2023)
2023
2024–
Nations League A 2023–24
Summer Olympics 2024
Irene Paredes (2023–24)
Olga Carmona (2023)
Irene Paredes2024– Nations League Finals 2024
Euro 2025 qualifying

Captains by appearances as captain

Caps as of 16 July 2024

PlayerSpain careerCaps as captainTotal capsFirst captaincyAge
1 Arantza del Puerto1990–2005407127 June 1996
2 Irene Paredes2011–381074 March 2016
3 Verónica Boquete2005–2017265612 February 2013
4 Marta Torrejón2007–2019259021 September 2015
5 Inmaculada Castañón1983–198817175 February 1983
Sandra Vilanova2003–20134621 November 2009
7 Ixiar Bakero1985–1998132321 October 1990
8 Ivana Andrés2013–115321 October 2021
9 Beatriz García1988–199810333 April 1995
10 Jennifer Hermoso2012–91145 March 2020
11 Maider Castillo1996–200784829 September 2005
Ruth García2005–201652 21 June 2012
Alexia Putellas2013–1191 March 2019
14 Itziar Gurrutxaga1998–200863727 Oct 2007
15 Amanda Sampedro2015–20205538 April 2017
16 Melisa Nicolau2004–201343130 October 2008
Olga Carmona2021–4031 July 2023
18 Montserrat González1983–19903174 November 1989
Eli Artola1986–1992182 May 1990
Yolanda Mateos1996–200126 13 September 1998
Esther González2016–4611 October 2022
22 Judith Corominas1992–1998225 31 May 1998
Vanesa Gimbert1997–2010402 October 2008
Adriana Martín2005–20153917 September 2011
Sonia Bermúdez2008–20176111 February 2015
Dolores Gallardo2013–20223813 April 2021
Irene Guerrero2019–20232622 February 2023
28 Mercedes Gaitero1983–198811317 March 1984
Ángeles Olmo1983–19881727 April 1985
Mar Prieto1985–200062 14 June 1998
Raquel Cabezón1998–20073830 May 2007
Vicky Losada2010–2020658 November 2018
Virginia Torrecilla2013–20206617 May 2019

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://eu-football.info/_players.php?id=185&data=10