Wayne Rooney has been appointed Manchester United captain... but how does he compare to Steven Gerrard, John Terry, Vincent Kompany and the other Premier League skippers?

• Louis van Gaal made Rooney Nemanja Vidic's successor as United captain
• Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Chris Brunt of West Brom are also new appointees as skipper
• Gerrard and Terry have captained Liverpool and Chelsea respectively with distinction for more than a decade
• Vincent Kompany led Manchester City to the Premier League title last season
• Eleven of the 20 captains in the top flight are English

Wayne Rooney's appointment as Manchester United captain means that all 20 Premier League clubs have announced their skippers for this season and there are plenty of different styles of leader, from motivators to talismanic figures.

Arsenal - Mikel Arteta 

Arsene Wenger has appointed midfielder Arteta as captain this week following Thomas Vermaelen’s departure to Barcelona.

Despite never playing for Spain, the 32-year-old is vastly experienced and well-liked and respected throughout European football. He leads from the front as a fierce competitor, but will be a steadying influence for the Gunners’ growing Spanish contingent.

LEADERSHIP RATING - 7

Aston Villa - Ron Vlaar 

Vlaar has been consistently linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer, and who would blame him for getting out of there?

But 'Concrete Ron', as he is nicknamed, never gives up no matter how lost the cause may appear to be. His tough mentality and iron will have made him ideal captaincy material. 

LEADERSHIP RATING - 8

Burnley - Jason Shackell 

The centre half is renowned for being level-headed and a steadying influence at the back for the Clarets.

Appointed skipper almost as soon as he joined Burnley from Derby in 2012, the 30-year-old has relished the role. Burnley boss Sean Dyche like straight-talking and Shackell is the embodiment of that on the pitch. 

LEADERSHIP RATING - 7 

Chelsea - John Terry  

There’s not a lot more that can be said about Terry’s qualities as captain once you realise he has led them to three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and a Champions League victory since pulling on the armband in 2004. One of the finest central defenders of the age, he also skippered England for two periods but on both occasions was stripped of the honour following controversy. A legend of the English game.

LEADERSHIP RATING - 9. 

Crystal Palace - Mile Jedinak

Jedinak is best described as 'steady'. But when Palace were battling relegation last season, the hard-tackling defensive midfielder was an inspirational figure.

Won respect throughout football for not celebrating his goal against West Ham last April out of respect for fellow Australian Dylan Tombides, who had just lost his fight against cancer. 

Australia boss Ange Postecoglu also recognised Jedinak’s qualities and named him skipper ahead of the World Cup in Brazil. 

LEADERSHIP RATING - 7 

Everton - Phil Jagielka 

He is the dressing room practical joker, but there is nothing comical about the 31-year-old defender’s role as skipper. Unquestionably a leader, Jagielka is a renowned communicator on the pitch and an expert ambassador off it.

‘Jags’, as he is affectionately known by Toffees fans, often praised for his ability to be a calming influence on younger players. Having come through the leagues, he has an appreciation of his privileged position for club and country. A fine captain in the Everton tradition. 

LEADERSHIP RATING - 9 

Hull City - Curtis Davies

Davies controls Hull’s defence with strength and resilience and his goal in last season’s FA Cup final against Arsenal shows he can lead from the front.

The 29-year-old Londoner is brave, throws himself into tackles and shows those around him how to expertly read the play. It seems a failing on England’s part that Davies has never been given the step up to full international level.

LEADERSHIP RATING - 8

Leicester City - Wes Morgan

The centre half says winning the Championship as Leicester captain last season was the proudest moment of his career. Even if the Foxes struggle to adapt to life back in the top flight, Morgan should be a big asset. 

The 30-year-old has worn the captain’s armband at the King Power Stadium for two seasons for a reason. He has strength of character and commands respect in the dressing room. A good communicator.

LEADERSHIP RATING - 7 

Liverpool - Steven Gerrard 

The fact Gerrard has been Liverpool’s skipper since 2003 should say it all. An Anfield legend, his lengthy spell as captain has been defined by that sensational Champions League final fightback in 2005.

Despite his awful end to last season - that slip and England’s World Cup disaster - the 34-year-old commands respect throughout the game. A local boy come good, Gerrard oozes passion and commitment to the cause and a Premier League title would be a fitting finale to a remarkable career. 

LEADERSHIP RATING - 9

Manchester City - Vincent Kompany 

The Belgium star is regarded as one of the finest defenders of the Premier League era. Pace, strength in the air and on the floor, positional sense; he has all the finest attributes.

Still only 28, he is at his prime and City’s players clearly take their lead from the dominant centre half, who is also his country’s captain. Unflappable and a sterling example to the rest.

LEADERSHIP RATING - 9 

Manchester United - Wayne Rooney

Rooney may land a captaincy double header this summer by also being named England skipper, which would be a remarkable transformation for a player who looked, at one point, as though he was going off the rails and out the door at Old Trafford.

Louis van Gaal has put his faith in a striker to lead his United revolution on the field and that must tell us something about how the 28-year-old from Croxteth has developed as a man and a leader. His professionalism was called into question when he appeared to sulk out on the wing for England’s dismal World Cup opener against Italy, but the ‘Iron Tulip’ clearly has no fears. Rooney could be simply the populist vote, only time will tell. 

LEADERSHIP RATING - 7 

Newcastle United - Fabricio Coloccini

Alan Pardew has spoken in glowing terms of Coloccini’s leadership qualities. And we all know how Pardew likes to lead by example.

Despite apparently talking of a return to Argentina last season, which throws up doubts about his long-term commitment, ’Colo’ coped well with a tough campaign. There was not much too much shout about for the team, but the 32-year-old defender was steady and consistent without being outstanding.

LEADERSHIP RATING - 6 

Queens Park Rangers - Clint Hill

It is testament to Hill’s outstanding attributes as captain that new signing Rio Ferdinand will not be taking over the armband.

The tough-tackling Scouser may be 35 years old, but Harry Redknapp still saw fit to give him a new one-year deal this summer and is backing Hill to lead the way as Rangers return to the Premier League. Hill has come up through football’s school of hard-knocks and that translates to no-nonsense, uncompromising leadership on the field. Well regarded in the game. 

LEADERSHIP RATING - 8

SOUNTHAMPTON - JOSE FONTE

Ronald Koeman has recognised the captaincy qualities in Portuguese defender Fonte despite only being at the club for a few weeks.

Of course, in the absence of Adam Lallana, Saints had to appoint someone as skipper... but 30-year-old Fonte has been at the club for four years and is a steadying influence. He has passion, but is calm and collected. Something Liverpool’s unofficial ‘feeder club’ will need in abundance if they are to survive a difficult season minus the key players sold off this summer.

LEADERSHIP RATING - 6