John Terry
Birth Name: John George Terry
Date of Birth: 7 December 1980 9age 29)
Place of Birth: London, England
Present Club: Chelsea
National Team: England
Playing Position: Center back
Brief History
John Terry was born on 7th December 1980 in Barking, London, England. He began off playing football for Senrab, a team that featured young players, of which many went on to become stars of the game in the future. Terry became part of Chelsea’s youth system at the age of 14 and played as a midfielder.
He did not play at this position for long as a shortage of central defenders forced him to become a centre-back defender. Terry debuted for the Chelsea senior side on 28th October 1998 in a League Cup tie against Aston Villa. He played 6 games that season. In the 1999-2000 season, he spent some time on loan at First Division side Nottingham Forest to build up his first team experience.
Returning to Chelsea
He returned to Chelsea soon and started being picked more frequently for the playing side in the 2000-01 season. He became a regular defender for the club next season and captained the side for the first time on 5th December 2001 in a game against Charlton Athletic. In the 2003-04 season John Terry was made the permanent captain of Chelsea by coach Claudio Ranieri.
When Jose Maurinho became coach of Chelsea at the start of the 2004-05 season, he kept Terry as captain which proved to be a really wonderful decision as Chelsea won the Premier League title that season and set the record for the best defense and most number of clean sheets in Premier League history.
Setting a record
Also, they scored the highest number of points ever scored in a Premiership season in 2004-05. Terry scored 8 goals that season which is the most he has ever scored up till today. Under Terry’s captaincy Chelsea retained the League title in 2005-06, once again having a superb season. On 14th October 2006, John Terry kept for the first time in a Premier League game against Reading when two of Chelsea’s goalkeepers were knocked out during the course of the game.
In December 2006, Terry had back problems which forced him not to make appearances for Chelsea for the next one-and-a-half month. He returned against Charlton Athletic on 3rd February 2007, however his return was not for long as he sustained an ankle injury very soon playing against Porto in the last sixteen of the Champions League. Then when he came back really soon, in the League Cup final against Arsenal, he was injured yet again when Arsenal’s Abou Diaby accidentally kicked him on the face in an attempt to clear the ball.
This put him out of action for two weeks. He was back in Chelsea colors in March 2007 in a game versus Blackburn and then after that led Chelsea to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Chelsea also won the FA Cup title that year. In July 2007, Terry signed a new five year contract with Chelsea. On 16th December 2007 in a clash versus Arsenal, Terry’s foot was stepped on by Arsenal’s Emmanuel Eboue which broke 3 bones in his foot and put him out of action for two months. He returned to play in the League Cup final which Chelsea lost to Tottenham Hotspur.
Leading Chelsea to the Champions league
Terry led Chelsea to the Champions League final against Manchester United in May 2008, however, he himself missed the penalty that could have won Chelsea the Champions League, as his front leg slipped when taking the penalty, and a result Chelsea lost. Terry defended well and scored two goals in the Champions League in 2008-09. He also led Chelsea to winning the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield in 2009.
Terry is also an integral part of the English National side.
He made his debut in June 2003 against Serbia and Montenegro. At Euro 2004, he played as a centre-back ahead of Sol Campbell. Terry captained the national side for the first time in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Poland. In a warm-up match for the FIFA World Cup 2006, played against on 30th May 2006, Terry scored his first goal in an international game.
Terry at the 2006 FIFA world cup
Terry played in all of England’s games in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and was extremely solid in defence. He defended well in the quarter-finals too, however, England lost to Portugal on penalties, which shattered their dreams of winning a world cup again. On 10th August 2006, England coach Steve McClaren named John Terry as the captain of the English National side.
He scored in his first game as captain in a friendly game against Greece and led his side to victory. It was a pity that England could not qualify for Euro 2008 under his leadership. On 1st June 2007, Terry scored in a friendly against Brazil at the new Wembley Stadium which held the extremely strong Brazilian side to a one-all draw.
He also scored against USA on 28th March 2008 at the new Wembley Stadium and against Germany at Berlin on 19th November 2008 in friendlies that secured England wins in both games. Terry scored his first goal in competitive competition in a FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifier against Ukraine at the new Wembley stadium on 1st April 2009. It has now been confirmed that John Terry would lead the England side at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
John Terry has won quite a few honors in his illustrious career. He was part of the Chelsea side that won the Premier League in 2004-05 and 2005-06, the FA Cup in 2000, 2007 and 2009, the Football League Cup in 2005 and 2007 and the FA Community Shield in 2005 and 2009. As an individual he won the PFA Player of the Year in 2004-05, Chelsea Player of the Year in 2001 and 2006, the best defender award at the UEFA Club Football Awards in 2005, 2008 and 2009, and was part of the FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament in 2006, the FIFPro XI in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and the UEFA Team of the Year in 2005, 2007 and 2008.
Controversies
John Terry has been involved in a couple of controversies throughout his career. He was fined two weeks’ wages when he along with four of his other Chelsea teammates drunkenly abused American tourists immediately after the 11th September 2001 attacks.
On 10th January 2007, Terry was fined £10,000 by the FA for questioning the integrity of match referee Graham Poll after he was sent off in the game at White Hart Lane against Tottenham. Apart from these controversies, Terry has shown good conduct and been a great sportsman.
Terry’s role in Chelsea
He wears the number 26 shirt for Chelsea and is a great defender and an even better captain. Having a centre-back like him really lifts the side and boosts their morale. It also helps the goalkeeper significantly and leads a side to victory. Thus, Chelsea are pretty lucky to have a player and leader like him.
Other than being a footballer, Terry also has commitments of the football field and has worked in TV Commercials for Samsung, Nationwide and Swedish betting company Svenska Spel. He is also in a sponsorship deal with the football game Pro Evolution Soccer and is the main face for the Umbro sports wear brand.