Declan Rice, who captained England against Wales last October, is set to earn his 74th cap against Croatia on Wednesday. The midfielder, fresh from winning the Premier League with Arsenal, has been named England's vice-captain under Thomas Tuchel.
The Making of a Leader
Three years ago, Rice was the star guest at a Soho House event on effective leadership. The audience of marketing directors and CEOs was eager to hear him, but Rice was puzzled by the interest. His appeal lies in his ability to connect with everyone, from high-powered executives to schoolchildren. He is authentic, genuine, and always ready to charm.
Stephen Willmore, Rice's former PE teacher at Grey Court school, recalls: "He's hardly changed. At 11, he was part of Chelsea's academy but never showed arrogance. He captained the school team and never missed a game, even adjusting kick-off times to play for us before Chelsea training."
Rejected by Chelsea, Embraced by West Ham
Rice faced dejection when Chelsea released him at 14. "That shock of my dad telling me, I just burst into tears," he said in 2019. West Ham, who had tracked him since he was nine, quickly offered him a deal. Academy staff saw his potential, and he soon made his first-team debut under Slaven Bilic in May 2017.
Former West Ham captain Mark Noble remembers Rice's first training session: "He stepped out of defence and hit a diagonal ball with a lovely fade. I suspected he'd take my place in midfield." Aaron Cresswell recalls a 2016 friendly against Rubin Kazan: "Dec gave the ball away and they scored. But his reaction was: 'Fine, give me the ball, I'm going to show you.' I thought: 'Gosh, he's going to be some player.'"
Leadership and Character
Rice's leadership was natural. He wasn't afraid to challenge older players or even manager David Moyes. Cresswell says: "If he felt something needed to be said, he'd say it. Everyone loved him." A memorable moment involved winding up Joe Hart during a shooting session: "Dec put it in the top corner, then tried to chip him. Joe lost his head and chased him around the training ground. But Dec's heart was in the right place."
After leading West Ham to the Europa Conference League title in 2023, Rice became the most expensive British player, joining Arsenal for £105m. Mikel Arteta called him the team's lighthouse, someone to guide and improve others. Under Arteta, Rice has evolved from a defensive midfielder into a box-crashing No. 8, scoring crucial goals including two spectacular free-kicks against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Off the Pitch
Rice balances professionalism with a playful side. He has 10 commercial partners, including Burberry and L'Oréal, and enjoys golf (handicap of six) and eclectic music from Gunna to Harry Styles. After Arsenal's title win, he celebrated with fans on the street before playing golf a few hours later. Cresswell notes: "He's still the same kid. He gave my eight-year-old son a shirt and took pictures. He's never forgotten West Ham."
As England prepare for the World Cup, Rice's leadership will be crucial. Tuchel has made him vice-captain, and the team aims to put a second star on the shirt. Rice's journey from Chelsea reject to England's vice-captain is a testament to his resilience and character.
