List of Spain national football team captains

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Men's team

Captain chronology

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

Name Span Tournaments as captain Reserve captains
Juan Arzuaga 1913
José María Belauste 1920 Summer Olympics 1920 Mariano Arrate (1920)
Mariano Arrate 1921–1923 Paulino Alcántara (1921–22)
Josep Samitier (1922–23)
Paulino Alcántara 1923
Manuel Meana 1924
Pedro Vallana 1924-1928 Summer Olympics 1924
Summer Olympics 1928
Josep Samitier (1924–25)
José María Peña (1925)
Ricardo Zamora (1927–28)
José Maria Yermo (1928)
Ricardo Zamora 1928–1936 World Cup 1934 qualifying
World Cup 1934
José María Peña (1930)
Josep Samitier (1931)
Jacinto Quincoces (1934–36)
Luis Regueiro 1936
Guillermo Gorostiza 1941
Ramón Gabilondo 1942
Juan Antonio Ipiña 1945–1946
César 1947
Herrerita 1947
Epi Fernández 1948–1949
Ignacio Eizaguirre 1949–1950 World Cup 1950 qualifying
World Cup 1950
Agustín Gaínza (1950)
Telmo Zarra (1950)
Agustín Gaínza 1950–1955 World Cup 1954 qualifying Antonio Puchades (1954)
Marcelino Campanal (1955)
Joan Segarra 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)
Jesús Garay 1957–1958 World Cup 1958 qualifying José María Zárraga (1958)
Enrique Collar 1962–1963 European Nations Cup 1964 qualifying Feliciano Rivilla (1963)
Paco Gento 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)
Ferran Olivella 1964–1965 European Nations Cup 1964
World Cup 1966 qualifying
Amancio 1970–1974 Euro 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)
José Claramunt 1974–1975 Carles Rexach (1974)
Juan Manuel Asensi (1978)
Pirri 1975–1978 Euro 1976 qualifying
World Cup 1978 qualifying
World Cup 1978
Juan Sol (1976)
Quini (1978)
Juan Manuel Asensi (1978)
Juan Manuel Asensi 1978–1980 Euro 1980 qualifying
Euro 1980
Vicente del Bosque (1978–80)
Eugenio Leal (1978)
Quini (1979)
Migueli (1979)
Dani (1980)
Carlos Santillana (1980)
Luis Arconada 1980–1985 Tour of South America (1981)
World Cup 1982
Euro 1984 qualifying
Euro 1984
José Antonio Camacho (1983–1984)
Rafael Gordillo 1985
José Antonio Camacho 1985–1988 World Cup 1986 qualifying
World Cup 1986
Euro 1988 qualifying
Euro 1988
Víctor Muñoz (1985–88)
Rafael Gordillo (1987–88)
Emilio Butragueño 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)
José Mari Bakero 1992–1994 World Cup 1994 qualifying Andoni Zubizarreta (1993–94)
Txiki Begiristain (1993)
Fernando Hierro (1993)
Andoni Zubizarreta 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)
Fernando Hierro 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)
Raúl 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)
Iker Casillas 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)
Sergio Ramos 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)
Sergio Busquets 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)
Jordi Alba 2023 Nations League Finals 2023
Euro 2024 qualifying
Álvaro Morata (2023)
Rodri (2023)
Álvaro Morata 2023– Euro 2024 qualifying Rodri (2023)
Jesús Navas (2023)
Mikel Oyarzabal (2024)

Captains by appearances as captain

Caps as of 26 March 2024
# Player Spain career Caps as captain Total caps First captaincy Age
1 Community of Madrid Iker Casillas 2000–2016 104 167 3 September 2004 23 years, 3 months and 14 days
2 Andalusia Sergio Ramos 2005–2021 54 180 3 June 2010 24 years, 2 months and 4 days
3 Basque Country (autonomous community) Andoni Zubizarreta 1985–1998 50 126 11 October 1989 27 years, 11 months and 15 days
4 Basque Country (autonomous community) Luis Arconada 1977–1985 48 68 24 September 1980 26 years, 2 months and 29 days
5 Castile and León Raúl González 1996–2006 42 102 18 August 1999 22 years, 1 month and 22 days
6 Andalusia Fernando Hierro 1989–2002 32 89 2 June 1993 25 years, 2 months and 10 days
7 Community of Madrid Emilio Butragueño 1983–1992 31 69 14 September 1988 25 years, 1 month and 23 days
8 Catalonia Ricardo Zamora 1920–1936 24 46 17 April 1927 26 years, 2 months and 27 days
Region of Murcia José Antonio Camacho 1975–1988 81 21 December 1983 28 years, 6 months and 13 days
10 Catalonia Sergio Busquets 2009–2022 20 143 7 October 2020 32 years, 2 months and 21 days
11 Agustín Gaínza 1945–1955 19 33 2 April 1950 27 years, 10 months and 5 days
12 Pirri 1966–1978 18 41 17 October 1968 23 years, 6 months and 6 days
13 Province of Barcelona Joan Segarra 1951–1962 15 25 27 November 1955 28 years and 12 days
Francisco Gento 1955–1969 43 11 June 1961 27 years, 7 months and 21 days
15 Amancio Amaro 1962–1974 14 42 11 February 1970 30 years, 3 months and 26 days
Juan Manuel Asensi 1969–1980 41 24 May 1978 28 years, 8 months and 1 day
17 Province of Barcelona Ferran Olivella 1957–1965 10 18 11 March 1964 27 years, 8 months and 17 days
Catalonia Xavi Hernández 2001–2016 133 22 August 2007 27 years, 6 months and 28 days
19 Jesús Garay 1953–1965 9 29 10 March 1957 26 years and 6 months
20 Province of Barcelona Josep Samitier 1920–1931 8 21 17 December 1922 20 years, 10 months and 16 days
Community of Madrid Álvaro Morata 2014– 71 26 March 2022 29 years, 5 months and 3 days
21 Asturias Abelardo Fernández 1991–2001 7 54 3 June 1998 28 years, 1 month and 15 days
Basque Country (autonomous community) Xabier Alonso 2003–2014 114 18 June 2008 26 years, 6 months and 24 days
24 Epi Fernández 1941–1949 6 15 21 March 1948 28 years, 10 months and 27 days
Enrique Collar 1955–1963 16 13 November 1961 27 years and 21 days
José Claramunt 1968–1975 23 21 October 1973 27 years, 3 months and 5 days
Andalusia Rafael Gordillo 1978–1988 75 26 May 1985 28 years, 3 months and 2 days
Community of Madrid Koke Resurrección 2013–2022 70 11 November 2020 28 years, 10 months and 3 days
29 Pedro Vallana 1920–1928 5 12 2 September 1920 22 years, 9 months and 4 days
Aragon Víctor Muñoz 1981–1988 60 18 March 1985 28 years and 3 days
Navarre José Mari Bakero 1987–1994 30 9 September 1992 29 years, 6 months and 29 days
Catalonia Jordi Alba 2011–2023 93 14 June 2021 32 years, 2 months and 24 days
33 Jacinto Quincoces 1928–1936 4 25 1 June 1934 28 years, 10 months and 15 days
Ignacio Eizaguirre 1945–1952 18 12 June 1949 28 years, 7 months and 5 days
Province of Barcelona Antoni Ramallets 1950–1961 35 18 May 1955 30 years, 10 months and 14 days
Jesús Glaría 1962–1969 20 23 October 1966 24 years, 9 months and 21 days
Severino Reija 1962–1967 20 7 December 1966 28 years and 12 days
Balearic Islands Miguel Ángel Nadal 1991–2002 62 10 June 1994 27 years, 10 months and 13 days
Catalonia Sergi Barjuan 1994–2002 56 18 November 1998 26 years, 10 months and 21 days
Catalonia Carles Puyol 2000–2013 100 17 October 2007 29 years, 5 months and 4 days
41 José María Belauste 1920 3 3 28 August 1920 31 years, 3 months and 13 days
Mariano Arrate 1920–1923 6 29 August 1920 28 years and 17 days
Paulino Alcántara 1921–1923 5 9 October 1921 24 years and 1 day
Guillermo Gorostiza 1930–1941 19 12 January 1941 31 years, 10 months and 28 days
Ramón Gabilondo 1941–1942 5 15 March 1942 29 years
Juan Antonio Ipiña 1936–1946 6 11 March 1945 33 years, 6 months and 16 days
Ignacio Zoco 1961–1969 25 20 July 1966 26 years, 11 months and 20 days
Francisco Gallego 1966–1973 36 2 May 1968 24 years, 1 month and 28 days
Quini 1970–1982 35 29 March 1978 28 years, 6 months and 6 days
Castilla–La Mancha Andrés Iniesta 2006–2018 131 12 October 2014 30 years, 5 months and 1 day
Catalonia Francesc Fàbregas 2006–2016 110 31 March 2015 27 years, 10 months and 27 days
52 José María Peña 1925–1930 2 21 4 October 1925 30 years, 5 months and 15 days
José María Yermo 1927–1928 5 1 June 1928 24 years, 11 months and 11 days
Marcelo Campanal 1952–1957 11 19 June 1955 23 years, 4 months and 6 days
Luis Regueiro 1927–1936 25 26 April 1936 27 years, 9 months and 25 days
Luis Suárez 1957–1972 32 26 October 1960 25 years, 5 months and 24 days
Juan Cruz Sol 1970–1976 28 2 May 1973 25 years, 7 months and 19 days
Vicente del Bosque 1975–1980 18 13 December 1978 27 years, 11 months and 20 days
Basque Country (autonomous community) Txiki Begiristain 1988–1994 22 31 March 1993 28 years, 7 months and 19 days
Asturias Luis Enrique 1991–2002 62 13 November 1999 29 years, 6 months and 5 days
Basque Country (autonomous community) Gaizka Mendieta 1988–1994 40 16 October 2002 28 years, 6 months and 19 days
Community of Madrid Fernando Torres 2003–2014 110 3 September 2005 21 years, 5 months and 14 days
Canary Islands David Silva 2006–2018 125 12 November 2016 30 years, 10 months and 4 days
64 César Rodríguez 1945–1952 1 12 26 January 1947 26 years, 6 months and 20 days
Eduardo Herrerita 1934–1947 6 2 March 1947 32 years, 7 months and 25 days
Telmo Zarra 1945–1951 20 16 July 1950 29 years, 5 months and 26 days
Antonio Puchades 1949–1954 23 14 March 1954 28 years, 9 months and 10 days
José María Zárraga 1955–1958 8 15 October 1958 28 years and 2 months
Province of Barcelona László Kubala 1953–1961 19 2 April 1961 33 years, 9 months and 23 days
Feliciano Rivilla 1960–1965 26 13 June 1963 26 years, 9 months and 23 days
Luis Aragonés 1965–1972 11 10 November 1970 32 years, 3 months and 13 days
Isacio Calleja 1961–1972 13 23 May 1972 35 years, 5 months and 17 days
Tonono Alfonso 1967–1972 22 19 October 1972 29 years, 1 month and 24 days
Txetxu Rojo 1969–1978 18 17 October 1973 26 years, 8 months and 19 days
Province of Barcelona Carles Rexach 1969–1978 15 20 November 1974 27 years, 10 months and 7 days
Eugenio Leal 1977–1978 14 21 December 1978 24 years, 7 months and 8 days
Migueli Bernardo 1974–1980 32 14 November 1979 27 years, 10 months and 26 days
Basque Country (autonomous community) Dani Ruiz-Bazán 1977–1981 25 26 March 1980 28 years, 8 months and 27 days
Carlos Santillana 1975–1985 56 18 June 1980 27 years, 9 months and 26 days
Extremadura Manolo Sánchez 1988–1992 28 26 May 1990 25 years, 4 months and 9 days
Community of Madrid Míchel 1985–1992 66 14 October 1992 29 years, 6 months and 21 days
Castilla–La Mancha Santiago Cañizares 1993–2006 46 30 April 2003 33 years, 4 months and 12 days
Basque Country (autonomous community) Joseba Etxeberria 1997–2004 53 31 March 2004 25 years, 7 months and 25 days
Valencian Community David Albelda 2001–2008 51 11 October 2006 29 years, 1 month and 10 days
Andalusia Joaquín Sánchez 2002–2008 51 6 June 2007 25 years, 10 months and 16 days
Asturias David Villa 2005–2017 98 14 November 2012 30 years, 11 months and 11 days
Andalusia Isco Alarcón 2013–2019 38 18 November 2018 26 years, 6 months and 28 days
Valencian Community Raúl Albiol 2007–2021 58 15 October 2019 33 years, 2 months and 14 days
Catalonia Marc Cucurella 2021– 2 8 June 2021 22 years, 10 months and 17 days
Navarre César Azpilicueta 2013–2022 44 5 September 2021 32 years and 8 days
Community of Madrid Rodri Hernández 2018– 49 28 March 2023 26 years, 9 months and 6 days
Andalusia Jesús Navas 2009– 51 16 November 2023 37 years, 11 months and 22 days
Basque Country (autonomous community) Mikel Oyarzabal 2016– 27 22 March 2024 26 years, 11 months and 5 days

Women's team

Captain chronology

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

Name Span Tournaments as captain Reserve captains
Conchi Sánchez 1971–1981
Asturias Inmaculada Castañón 1983–1988 1987 European Competition qualifying
1989 European Competition qualifying
Mercedes Gaitero (1984)
Ángeles Olmo (1985)
Catalonia Montserrat González 1989–1990 Euro 1991 qualifying
Basque Country (autonomous community) Eli Artola 1990–1991 Ixiar Bakero (1991)
Navarre Ixiar Bakero 1991–1994 Euro 1993 qualifying
Grand Hotel Varna Tournament 1992
Torneig Internacional Ciutat de Tarragona (1993)
Euro 1995 qualifying
Basque Country (autonomous community) Beatriz García 1995–1996 Grand Hotel Varna Tournament 1995
Euro 1997 qualifying
Tournament Slovakia (1996)
Basque Country (autonomous community) Arantza del Puerto 1996–2005 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 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)
Basque Country (autonomous community) Maider Castillo 2005–2007 World Cup 2007 qualifying Raquel Cabezón (2007)
Basque Country (autonomous community) Itziar Gurrutxaga 2007–2008 Euro 2009 qualifying Vanesa Gimbert (2008)
Melisa Nicolau (2008)
Vanesa Gimbert 2008 Euro 2009 qualifying Play-offs
Melisa Nicolau 2008–2010 World Cup 2011 qualifying Sandra Vilanova (2009–10)
Sandra Vilanova 2011–2013 Euro 2013 qualifying
Euro 2013
Adriana Martín (2011)
Ruth García (2012)
Verónica Boquete (2013)
Verónica Boquete 2013–2017 World Cup 2015 qualifying
World Cup 2015
Algarve Cup 2017
Euro 2017 qualifying
Ruth García (2014–16)
Sonia Bermúdez (2015–17)
Marta Torrejón (2015–17)
Irene Paredes (2016)
Amanda Sampedro (2017)
Marta Torrejón 2017–2019 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 Paredes 2019–2022
2024–
Euro 2022 qualifying
SheBelieves Cup 2020
World Cup 2023 qualifying
Arnold Clark Cup 2022
Euro 2022
1st place, gold medalist(s) Nations League Finals 2024
Euro 2025 qualifying
Jennifer Hermoso (2020–22)
Amanda Sampedro (2020)
Dolores Gallardo (2021)
Alexia Putellas (2021–22)
Ivana Andrés (2021)
Ivana Andrés 2022–2023 Cup of Nations 2023
1st place, gold medalist(s) World Cup 2023
Esther González (2022–23)
Irene Guerrero (2023)
Olga Carmona (2023)
Alexia Putellas 2023 Nations League A 2023–24 Irene Paredes (2023–24)
Olga Carmona (2023)

Captains by appearances as captain

Caps as of 10 April 2024
# Player Spain career Caps as captain Total caps First captaincy Age
1 Basque Country (autonomous community) Arantza del Puerto 1990–2005 40 71 27 June 1996 25 years, 3 months and 19 days
2 Basque Country (autonomous community) Irene Paredes 2011– 35 104 4 March 2016 24 years and 8 months
3 Galicia (Spain) Verónica Boquete 2005–2017 26 56 12 February 2013 25 years, 10 months and 3 days
4 Catalonia Marta Torrejón 2007–2019 25 90 21 September 2015 25 years, 6 months and 25 days
5 Asturias Inmaculada Castañón 1983–1988 17 17 5 February 1983 23 years, 7 months and 6 days
Catalonia Sandra Vilanova 2003–2013 46 21 November 2009 28 years, 10 months and 20 days
7 Navarre Ixiar Bakero 1985–1998 13 23 21 October 1990 21 years, 2 months and 27 days
8 Valencian Community Ivana Andrés 2013– 11 53 21 October 2021 27 years, 3 months and 8 days
9 Basque Country (autonomous community) Beatriz García 1988–1998 10 33 3 April 1995 24 years, 11 months and 11 days
10 Community of Madrid Jennifer Hermoso 2012– 9 113 5 March 2020 29 years, 9 months and 25 days
11 Basque Country (autonomous community) Maider Castillo 1996–2007 8 48 29 September 2005 29 years, 1 month and 26 days
Valencian Community Ruth García 2005–2016 52 21 June 2012 25 years, 2 months and 26 days
13 Catalonia Alexia Putellas 2013– 7 115 1 March 2019 25 years and 25 days
14 Basque Country (autonomous community) Itziar Gurrutxaga 1998–2008 6 37 27 Oct 2007 30 years, 6 months and 23 days
15 Community of Madrid Amanda Sampedro 2015–2020 5 53 8 April 2017 23 years, 9 months and 13 days
16 Balearic Islands Melisa Nicolau 2004–2013 4 31 30 October 2008 24 years, 4 months and 10 days
Andalusia Olga Carmona 2021– 40 31 July 2023 23 years, 1 month and 19 days
18 Catalonia Montserrat González 1983–1990 3 17 4 November 1989 24 years, 4 months and 5 days
Basque Country (autonomous community) Eli Artola 1986–1992 18 2 May 1990 22 years, 6 months and 7 days
Basque Country (autonomous community) Yolanda Mateos 1996–2001 26 13 September 1998 26 years, 6 months and 18 days
Andalusia Esther González 2016– 46 11 October 2022 29 years, 10 months and 3 days
22 Catalonia Judith Corominas 1992–1998 2 25 31 May 1998 31 years, 6 months and 21 days
Basque Country (autonomous community) Vanesa Gimbert 1997–2010 40 2 October 2008 28 years, 5 months and 13 days
Aragon Adriana Martín 2005–2015 39 17 September 2011 23 years, 10 months and 10 days
Community of Madrid Sonia Bermúdez 2008–2017 61 11 February 2015 30 years, 2 months and 27 days
Andalusia Dolores Gallardo 2013–2022 38 13 April 2021 27 years, 10 months and 3 days
Andalusia Irene Guerrero 2019–2023 26 22 February 2023 26 years, 2 months and 10 days
28 Community of Madrid Mercedes Gaitero 1983–1988 1 13 17 March 1984 24 years, 8 months and 17 days
Galicia (Spain) Ángeles Olmo 1983–1988 17 27 April 1985 23 years and 7 months
Community of Madrid Mar Prieto 1985–2000 62 14 June 1998 29 years, 3 months and 13 days
Catalonia Raquel Cabezón 1998–2007 38 30 May 2007 28 years, 8 months and 15 days
Catalonia Vicky Losada 2010–2020 65 8 November 2018 27 years, 8 months and 3 days
Balearic Islands Virginia Torrecilla 2013–2020 66 17 May 2019 24 years, 8 months and 8 days

See also

Notes

References