The full-back assumed the armband last week ahead of his seventh season as a senior player at Elland Road, and Gary McAllister's selection has been welcomed by two other suggested candidates for the captaincy, David Prutton and Rui Marques.

Prutton described Richardson as "the ideal choice" on account of his long service to United, and Marques confirmed that McAllister's dressing room were unanimously happy to see the 25-year-old given the chance to lead the squad at Elland Road.

Prutton said: "You don't get any airs or graces with Frazer and it seems like a good decision to me. He's probably the ideal choice.

"He's been here for a long time, longer than the rest of us and you'd have to say that he's earned this, both with his performances and the way he acts away from football.

"He's just a genuinely nice guy and a great professional.

"Clubs want a captain who represents them in the right way and a captain who's dependable and they'll get that with Frazer. The lads respect him which is essential and I think you'll see him do very well.

"On top of that, he'll get a lot of support from the other experienced players here.

"There's a lot of responsibility on the captain but that doesn't mean that everyone else sits back and leaves him to take the pressure. We've all got to play a part."

Richardson made his 100th league start for United last season, almost six years after his professional debut in a UEFA Cup game against Hapoel Tel Aviv and he has been the longest-serving player at Elland Road since Gary Kelly announced his retirement at the end of the 2006-07 term.

The defender was seen as an outside possibility for the captaincy before the start of pre-season – Jonathan Douglas was widely expected to retain the armband – but Richardson operated as the club's skipper in several of their summer friendlies and confirmation of his appointment came shortly before last weekend's League One match at Scunthorpe United.

Marques also paid tribute to Richardson, saying: "Frazer's been here longer than me and he's a very important player as well. I'm happy for him.

"There was a good possibility that it might have been me or one of a number of other players but I believe that he'll be a very good captain.

"I'm not disappointed at all.