download All Football App

On this day in 2000, David Beckham captained England for the first time

  /  JaniceHo37

19 years ago today, David Beckham captained his country for the first time in his illustrious career.

England lost 1-0 against Italy in Turin but it will always be a night Beckham will look back on fondly, with stand-in manager Peter Taylor giving him the captaincy for the game.

Wearing his trademark No.7 shirt, 'Golden Balls' walked the Three Lions out onto the pitch, did the coin toss and exchanged pennants with AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini and proudly sported the armband.

Beckham was just 25 at the time but had actually been playing first-team football for a while and was considered to be one of the more experienced members of the squad that evening, with several players from the Under 21's brought into the side.

He had made his England debut four years prior and had already played in a World Cup and European Championships but receiving the armband helped take his career into a whole new direction.

Is Beckham one of England's greatest captains?

Sound off in the comments.