Aston Villa star targets England captaincy and credits Unai Emery for being ‘great for my growth’
Ezri Konsa played the full 90 minutes for England in their penultimate qualifying match for World Cup 2026 and has set his sights on a senior role in the squad.
Aston Villa defender Konsa put in another spotless display for the Three Lions, who had already qualified for the World Cup with two matches to spare.
His performances in the last three international windows have cemented his place in the England side. There is some competition for places at centre-back but Konsa is the one player who has consistently started for the national team this autumn.
Konsa was up for media duty before England’s 2-0 win against Serbia at Wembley on Thursday and discussed the matter of the captaincy at club and country levels with reporters.
“It is a role that I want to do,” said the 28-year-old, who was Villa’s skipper in their most recent Europa League fixture.
“Recently, I’ve taken that responsibility for Aston Villa and I really enjoyed it. For me, as a defender, being a leader is really important. Who knows, maybe one day I will be able to wear the armband.”
Will Ezri Konsa be Aston Villa captain?
Villa manager Unai Emery confirmed after Villa’s Europa League win against Maccabi Tel Aviv that Konsa led the team out at Villa Park because he is now the club’s recognised vice-captain.
John McGinn is the team’s long established captain and Konsa is the next in line when McGinn isn’t on the pitch, a role that previously fell to Emiliano Martínez and Tyrone Mings.
Mings, a former Villa captain in his own right, is no longer a nailed-on first choice in the team. Martínez has apparently dropped out of Emery’s senior leadership group after the summer transfer window fiasco.
In any case, Konsa is the youngest of the four and is being primed to take over when the time comes. He believes he can do a similar thing for England when 32-year-old Harry Kane hangs up his boots.
Ezri Konsa’s England career
It’s an ambitious aim but by no means a ridiculous one. Konsa is relatively new to the senior England team but not to international representative football. He joined Villa in 2019 as an Under-21 international and has become one of the top defenders in the Premier League.
Konsa made his senior England debut as recently as March 2024 and has now played 15 times for the Three Lions including each of the last five. He’s played the full match in seven of England’s nine matches in 2025 and the only game he missed entirely was the only time they lost and the only time they conceded a goal.
Konsa told the media that Emery is responsible for his supercharged development in the past three years.
“I’ve looked at football differently because of the way he’s wanted us to play. His style of play and my style of play has fitted amazingly. Working with him has been great for my growth,” said the Villa defender.
“Since he has come in, I think I’ve managed to do what he has asked of me and I’ve managed to grow my game. I’m really enjoying working under him here and enjoying my football.”
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