Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has suggested that Branislav Ivanovic will be named as the club’s vice-captain for the 2015-16 season.
The Blues need a new deputy for long-serving skipper John Terry after granting goalkeeper Petr Cech a transfer to London rivals Arsenal.
In an interview with Standard Sport in which he was hyping the leadership credentials of Eden Hazard, Mourinho seemed to let slip that Ivanovic was second in line.
“Let’s see what is going to happen but we have these people. But let’s say John and Branislav are our captains and the others are ready to come,” he is quoted as saying.
Serbian defender Ivanovic has racked up 313 appearances for Chelsea since joining from Lokomotiv Moscow for £9m in 2008, and has been described by Mourinho as one of the club’s best ever signings.
The 31-year-old has won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League in his seven years at Stamford Bridge.
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