Aaron Ramsey has been named as Wales’s new captain following Gareth Bale’s retirement.

Bale, 33, announced in January that his football career had come to an end.

Wales’s record scorer, he finished by leading his country in the World Cup finals in Qatar – their first appearance at the tournament since 1958.

Ramsey, 32, was previously vice-captain and Wales manager Rob Page said he saw his promotion as a “natural progression”.

Page added: “He’s got a big opportunity to work with the young players. He’s in the right time of his career to lead the boys out and he is relishing it.

“I’ve spoken to Aaron. He’s very appreciative of it and he’s looking forward to the role.”

Ramsey has done the job before – appointed by the late Gary Speed at the age of 20 in March 2011.

Speed’s successor, Chris Coleman, gave the armband to Ashley Williams in October 2012 to allow Ramsey to focus on his football.

Ramsey, who has 78 caps, will lead his country for the first time in the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Croatia and Latvia.

Page has selected a 24-man squad for the matches, including four uncapped players.

Midfielders Jordan James and Ollie Cooper, who in Qatar but not part of the official World Cup squad, both feature.

Fulham youngster Luke Harris and Ipswich striker Nathan Broadhead are included too.

In addition to Bale, Chris Gunter, Joe Allen and Jonny Williams have also retired from international football since Wales’s disappointing World Cup campaign, in which they scored only once and finished bottom of their group.

Related posts:

Vaccine rollout to be ‘considerably slower’ until end of July, government advisers say Legal challenge to let indoor hospitality open sooner to be fast-tracked ‘Another key milestone’: New type of vaccine will be given to patients in the UK from today Raise a pint! Indoor hospitality and household mixing is a week away No ‘free-for-all’: Wales set to move to alert level zero – but FM warns it ‘does not mean end of restrictions’ Team GB’s women’s hockey team secure bronze after thrilling win against India Boy, 15, sentenced to four years and nine months in detention for killing Stockport restaurant owner Is your area among the worst for COVID booster jab take-up? Police officers who took and shared WhatsApp photos of murdered sisters’ bodies are jailed Boris Johnson’s allies fear lockdown party revelations could be knockout blow for PM People ‘too scared to go outside’ after shooting near memorial for young cancer victim leaves girl fighting for life Yellow warning for snow extended to London and South East as temperatures fall as low as -10C