John George Terry (born 7 December 1980 in Barking) is an English professional football player. He is one of the greatest players ever to live on this planet. Terry plays as a centre back and is currently the captain of both Chelsea in the English Premier League and the national football team of England.
Terry is currently regarded as one of the best defenders in European football. He was voted best defender in the 2005 UEFA Champions League,[1] PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2005,[2] and was included in the FIFPro World XI for 2005[3] and 2006.[4] He was also named in the all-star squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the only English player to make the team.[5] He wears the number 26 shirt for Chelsea and the number 6 shirt for England.
John Terry has emerged through the ranks at Chelsea to become the best central defender in England.
Once thought of as the understudy to Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell in the national side, it is now those two players who have to fight it out for the remaining slot.
Commanding in the air, confident on the ball and a constant danger coming up from the back for set-pieces, the Chelsea captain has become the rock around which the club's success has been built.
Terry has said of himself: And Terry said: 'I like to be a leader - be a bit of a joker around the place and help the lads on and off the pitch.
'On the pitch I'm very vocal. If someone needs to get told, they get told - it doesn't matter who they are. It's something that has stuck with me since I was a kid.'
In 2004/05 the Blues set a Premiership record for clean sheets and the fewest goals conceded, a measure of his influence and organisation skills.
That same season he was named the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year.
Former Chelsea star Marcel Desailly has called him a 'Chelsea legend in the making', while boss Jose Mourinho believes he's the 'perfect player'.
Terry made his Chelsea debut in October 1998, replacing Dan Petrescu for the final few minutes of the 4-1 League Cup victory over Aston Villa. He earned his first start after the turn of the year in a 2-0 FA Cup success at Oldham Athletic.
Though he only made fleeting appearances in that 1998/99 season he did enough to win the club's Young Player of the Year award.
He was rewarded with some first-team outings during 1999-2000, during which he even got on the scoresheet in a 5-0 FA Cup thrashing of Gillingham.
Terry was loaned to Nottingham Forest in March 2000 to build up his first team experience, turning out six times at the end of the season.
Within a year, then-manager Claudio Ranieri had enough confidence in the player to put him in the team when Frank Leboeuf was injured.
And when the French World Cup winner returned to fitness, he couldn't get back in the team. Terry had done what so few English youngsters had managed at the Bridge and established himself in the team alongside the global stars.
Terry grew in stature to become the captain of the England Under-21 side during the 2001/02 season.
He appeared destined to captain the side at the European Under-21 Championships in Switzerland at the end of the season. There were even strong calls for him to make the full squad for the 2002 World Cup.
However, his international chances were ruined after an incident involving a bouncer at the Wellington Club in Knightsbridge. Terry, along with team-mate Jody Morris and Wimbledon defender Des Byrne, were charged with affray.
After the precedent set by the Bowyer-Woodgate affair, Terry was banned from playing for England at all levels until the case was settled. The player was cleared of all charges in August 2002.
Terry returned to the England fold in 2003 and made his belated senior debut as one of ten substitutes against Serbia & Montenegro at the Walkers Stadium in June - England won 2-1.
He then made his full senior debut in the 3-1 friendly victory over Croatia at Portman Road in August 2003 - ending the game as England's third captain of the match after a round of substitutions.
Terry, who signed a new, improved four year contract in the summer of 2003, emerged as one of the best defensive talents in England in 2003/04. His strong, committed and inspiring displays led to him being handed the skipper's armband when Desailly was out of the side.
He was named in England's squad for Euro 2004, but a hamstring injury cruelly robbed him of a place in the big opening clash with France. He returned to play in the remaining three fixtures but clearly was not fully fit.
After a fine start to 2004/05 he was handed another new, improved contract to run until the summer of 2009.
And his performances earned him the PFA award and the admiration of fans across the country.
Terry made his 250th appearance for Chelsea in 2005/06.
John Terry News
I'm so grateful for Chelsea star Terry's help in easing my injury ... - Daily Mail
TERRY AGREES NEW DEAL Sportinglife.com, UK - 9 Jun 2008 The 29-year-old, the older brother of Chelsea and England defender John Terry, was a regular in the middle of the park for the Os last term after arriving ... Terry signs new dealSetanta Sports all 16 news articles
Scolari & Terry: Mutual Admirers Goal.com, Switzerland - 14 Jun 2008 ... another crucial ally when he attempts to assert his authority over Chelsea, having made a huge impression upon club captain John Terry ? and vice versa. ...
JOHN HIATT "Same Old Man" New West Records Washington Post, United States - 3 Jul 2008 Amid droll anecdotes about playing with more-established musicians (Sonny Terry, John Lee Hooker and John Hammond Jr., among others), he makes a jab at ...
Restaurant review: AA Gill at Vapiano Times Online, UK - 3 hours ago ...Terry O?Neill is very of the moment, with a big belt. If it?s misery lit of the ?No, Da, not with the rubber hose? type, then John Stoddart?s your man. ...
