Aaron Ramsey named as new Wales captain after Gareth Bale’s retirement

Aaron Ramsey has been named as Wales’s new captain following Gareth Bale’s retirement.

Bale, 33, announced in January that his football career had come to an end.

Wales’s record scorer, he finished by leading his country in the World Cup finals in Qatar – their first appearance at the tournament since 1958.

Ramsey, 32, was previously vice-captain and Wales manager Rob Page said he saw his promotion as a “natural progression”.

Page added: “He’s got a big opportunity to work with the young players. He’s in the right time of his career to lead the boys out and he is relishing it.

“I’ve spoken to Aaron. He’s very appreciative of it and he’s looking forward to the role.”

Ramsey has done the job before – appointed captain by the late Gary Speed at the age of 20 in March 2011.

Speed’s successor, Chris Coleman, gave the armband to Ashley Williams in October 2012 to allow Ramsey to focus on his football.

Ramsey, who has 78 caps, will lead his country in the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Croatia and Latvia later this month.

Page has selected a 24-man squad for the matches, including four uncapped players.

Midfielders Jordan James and Ollie Cooper, who were in Qatar but not part of the official World Cup squad, both feature.

Fulham youngster Luke Harris and Ipswich striker Nathan Broadhead are included too.

Wales are waiting on the fitness of Brennan Johnson after the in-form Nottingham Forest forward was injured at Tottenham on Saturday.

Johnson, who has scored seven goals since the World Cup, is expected to have a scan on a groin strain this week.

In addition to Bale, Chris Gunter, Joe Allen and Jonny Williams have also retired from international football since Wales’s disappointing World Cup campaign, in which they scored only once and finished bottom of their group.