After nine years in the role, Sophie Ingle has stepped down as Wales Women captain.

The 32-year-old midfielder has been capped 136 time for Wales and led the side in Friday’s EURO 2025 qualifier.

The 4-0 victory over Croatia was new manager Rhian Wilkinson’s first game in charge as Wales began Euro 2025 qualifying with a comfortable win in Wrexham.

Wales have not yet announced who will replace the Chelsea midfielder as captain, with another qualifier to come in Kosovo on Tuesday.

“It has been the best nine years, representing my country and leading this group of girls out,” Ingle said.

“It has been such a career high and one I will never forget.

“I think it is the right time for me, for the team and moving forward, that I pass on the captain’s armband.

“Being Wales captain has probably made me the person I am today. When I got that armband I was 23, I was a shy, little girl who didn’t really speak to the team. That really gave me the power to speak to the girls and develop those relationships.”

Ingle had been national captain since 2015, when she replaced Wales’ most capped player, Jess Fishlock, in the role.

“I think the time is right now, going into the new camp and we have leaders all across this team, so I don’t think it matters who has the armband,” she said.

“I have been lucky enough to do it for nine years and it is a little bit greedy to be honest, so now is the right time to let someone else have a go and experience what I have over the last nine years.

“It will be a proud day for them and their family and I want them to experience everything I have, the highs and lows and leadership that comes with that and the responsibility they will now take.

“It’s not been an overnight thing, this is something that [since] before Christmas has been on my mind.”

Former Wales captain and vice-president of UEFA, Laura McAllister said Ingle is “one of the very best, on and off the field, to wear the Wales shirt” in a post on X.

“As our game grows and changes, modern captaincy for women’s national teams is about so much more than on pitch leadership and all that takes its toll. Sophie Ingle has been an invaluable bridge between old and new – we owe her a massive thank you.”

Who will succeed Ingle?

While Wales have not officially announced who will succeed Ingle as captain, there are a few good options in the squad for manager Wilkinson to choose from.

Jess Fishlock has already said that this qualifying campaign is likely to be her last but there will be temptation to give her the captaincy as a send-off present.

As more longer-term options go, midfielders Angharad James and Hayley Ladd have been stalwarts of the national side – James passed 100 caps late last year, while Ladd has been a key part of the Wales side since 2011.

Both are still performing at a high level, James in the NWSL for Seattle Reign and Ladd for WSL side, Manchester United.

Other options include another Manchester United player, defender Gemma Evans, and Rachel Rowe, currently having the best season of her career at Rangers.

If Wales were to replicate their decision back in 2015, when they appointed 23-year-old Ingle to the post, young players Ffion Morgan, Lily Woodham, and Carrie Jones all have significant international experience for their age and could be ‘the next Ingle’ for Wales.

Whoever it will be. Ingle’s influence will still be felt around the squad as the midfielder stressed that she has no intention to retire anytime soon.