Julien Le Cardinal named Saint-Étienne captain, a sign of change | OneFootball

According to Le Progres, Julien Le Cardinal, 29, has been named Saint-Étienne captain after joining from Brest in January and quickly becoming vice-captain. Head coach Ian Cathro has played down the decision, yet it points to a desire for change.

Cathro officially handed him the role during the first pre-season friendly against Biel-Bienne in Andrézieux, a 2-2 draw on 11 July.

Le Cardinal resists talk of upheaval, saying the armband will not alter how he goes about things. He joked about taking charge of fines and said nothing would change with or without it.

Even so, the coach’s call signals a small turn in a dressing room that has shifted little since his strong words after the play-off defeat in Nice in May.

For now, Le Cardinal maintains he will not try to be someone else, captaincy or not.

Source: Le Progres

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”