John Terry has been reinstated as the permanent captain of England.
The move by boss Fabio Capello had been widely expected, and comes ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales.
Terry was stripped of the armband last year after reports that he had an affair with the former partner of England team-mate Wayne Bridge.
But Capello said on Saturday: "After one year of punishment, Terry will again be the permanent captain. I think one year's punishment is enough."
Terry replaces Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who was reported to be upset at the prospect of losing the captaincy earlier this week.
Ferdinand is currently injured, and Capello had planned to meet him to explain his thinking at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
But the Italian told a media briefing at the Football Association's HQ at Wembley Stadium that Ferdinand "preferred not to meet me".
Chelsea's Terry was initially appointed England skipper by Steve McClaren in August 2006, and Capello reinstated him in August 2008 after initially experimenting with different players in the role.
Capello said he had been impressed by Terry's continuing leadership on and off the pitch in the past 12 months.
"John, when he played without the armband, was everytime a leader on the pitch, a leader in the dressing room. He was really good every time.
"Always he is the same. He is a player that is himself a leader. This is really important. He is the biggest personality in the dressing room."
Capello believes Terry will have learnt from his alleged off-the-field indiscretions and is confident he will have the support of the dressing room.
He said: "Sometimes the leader can make mistakes - not only him but I, you, all the people.
"It is not a risk making Terry captain again. He understood the mistake and he learnt from his mistakes.
"He will be a very important captain for us because when I choose him, I know he is a leader.
"I also think the players will be happy. I think so. They respect John Terry as a leader, absolutely."
Ferdinand will revert to his previous role as vice-captain when he recovers from injury with Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, also ruled out of the Wales clash through injury, next in line to wear the armband.
Capello continued: "I tried to meet Rio at the Manchester United game [against Marseille in the Champions League] on Wednesday.
"He was ready to meet me but he preferred not to meet us. I don't know why. It is a question for him, not me.
"I was ready, I wanted to speak with him and explain my decision.
"I hope I will meet him in the future to speak with him personally and privately, not by phone because I think by phone is not so good.
"I hope he will be fit to play for the national team because he is one of the most important people with his experience and value as a player.
"I spoke with Steven and it is no problem for him."
