Andriy Lunyn Named Fourth Captain of Real Madrid Following Dani Carvajal's Departure

Real Madrid's Captaincy Hierarchy Undergoes Shake-Up

According to Главком: Real Madrid is reshuffling its captaincy order after Dani Carvajal's exit-the defender is leaving the club at the end of the season following 23 years of service. Federico Valverde will take over as the new captain, while Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunyn moves up to the fourth spot in the leadership lineup. The decision is based on each player's tenure with the club.

Here is the updated captaincy hierarchy at Real Madrid:

• Federico Valverde - 1st
• Vinícius Júnior - 2nd
• Thibaut Courtois - 3rd
• Andriy Lunyn - 4th

During the 2025/26 season, Lunyn has already worn the captain's armband in two matches. In the 29th round of La Liga against Atlético Madrid, he played the final 10 minutes before handing the armband to Vinícius. Additionally, in a match against Mallorca, Lunyn became the first Ukrainian in club history to lead Real Madrid onto the pitch as captain. He wore the armband for 59 minutes that game before again passing it to Vinícius. So far this season, Lunyn has appeared in 12 matches for Real Madrid, conceding 21 goals. He achieved his first clean sheet of the season in the game against Espanyol.

José Mourinho Returns to the Helm

Alongside the changes in the captaincy order, Real Madrid has announced the return of José Mourinho as head coach. Benfica Lisbon received €3 million in compensation for his transfer to Real Madrid. Earlier reports in the press had mentioned a €7 million release clause. Mourinho has already agreed on a contract with Real Madrid and will sign it next week-the deal is set to run either until mid-2028 or the summer of 2029. An official announcement of his return to Madrid is expected within days.

Notably, Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. During his tenure, the club won the Spanish league title in the 2011/12 season, along with the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España, and reached the Champions League semifinals three times.

The restructuring of the captaincy hierarchy and José Mourinho's return as head coach highlight Real Madrid's push to reclaim its former glory and stability. Elevating Valverde to captain could signal a focus on youth development, while Mourinho's comeback opens new possibilities for success on the international stage. These moves are likely to have a significant impact on team dynamics in the coming seasons.

As Real Madrid undergoes significant changes in its squad, including the departure of key players, the club is also preparing for a major summer overhaul. This transition could see several players leaving the team, impacting the overall dynamics as they adjust to new leadership. To learn more about which players might be on their way out, check out our detailed report on the upcoming squad changes here.