England's interim manager Stuart Pearce has selected Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Scott Parker as the man to lead out the Three Lions against Holland this evening at Wembley Stadium.
For Parker, the armband will mark a significant rise on the international scene, having made just ten appearances for his country prior to tonight's match.
With that in mind, Sports Mole examines why Parker may have beaten off competition from the likes of Steven Gerrard, Joe Hart, James Milner and Gareth Barry for the role.
Parker made his England debut as a Charlton Athletic midfielder in 2003 during a match with Denmark. That evening he replaced then skipper David Beckham.
His subsequent switch to Chelsea in 2004 was seen as a transfer to elevate Parker's chances of securing a regular spot in the England side. However, a lack of starting opportunities at Stamford Bridge saw him overlooked by manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Moves to Newcastle United and West Ham United failed to catch the attention of Eriksson and his replacement Steve McClaren as Parker went over four years without an international call-up.
It wasn't until last season when he caught the eye of Fabio Capello that Parker began to receive international recognition. It didn't see him make the cut for the World Cup, but he has gone on to play in nine of England's last 11 matches.
His performances over the last year saw him named the England Player of the Year for 2011 earlier this week, an award voted for by supporters.
Perhaps Pearce made the decision because he sees a lot of himself in Parker. The Spurs midfielder is viewed as a player that is fully committed on the pitch, but very rarely makes the headlines off the field of play - a carbon copy of Pearce during his playing days with Nottingham Forest and England.
Yesterday, while refusing to confirm who would be the captain, Pearce said this of Parker: "He's developed without a doubt as a player, probably as a man as well.
"It takes time to get feet under the table when you step up to international level but he is comfortable now.
"He's been outstanding for us and a good member of the group."
Pearce also went on to describe the man to whom he would be handing the armband: "When I bear in mind it might be a one-off scenario, the captain has got to be somebody who is in the starting lineup, somebody who's got the respect of the other players in my eyes and someone who is unselfish and puts the group above himself. That's a vital commodity as captain."
Some have said that Parker has only been given the job because he is likely to play 90 minutes this evening. He is currently serving a one-match suspension for Spurs following his red card at the weekend and will not feature against Manchester United at the weekend.
The bookmakers feel differently though, and have installed the 31-year-old as the favourite to captain England at Euro 2012.
A lot will depend on who will manage England at the tournament. The reported candidates, Pearce and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, are known admirers of Parker's ability.
Liam Apicella
