Chelsea FC’s 50 Greatest Players Of All-Time
3. John Terry: 1998-Present
Many of us don’t realise that John Terry, like Frank Lampard, also came through the West Ham youth system. But unlike Lampard, he moved to Chelsea early (at the age of 14 in 1995) before proceeding through the academy and club ranks to become “JT, Captain, Leader, Legend”, as we know him today.
The English first captained a Chelsea side in 2001 and then permanently took over in 2004, both times replacing another club legend, Marcel Desailly. He retained the captaincy despite a change of guard at the club level, with a new owner and a new coach taking their places.
Since then, he has ably led the team through its most successful phase in history, winning 16 trophies to date. He is thus Chelsea’s most successful captain ever while taking on the role for the national team as well.
Terry has had a commendable return (for a defender) of 62 goals for the club in all competitions and 2014/15 was one of his most successful seasons in terms of goals scored (8). The defender has been a vital cog in Chelsea’s spine over the last decade, put in place by our Special One and so instrumental in all our recent successes.
Despite controversies that have tailed him, no one can doubt his credentials as the soul of the club. He is the last player to have successfully graduated from the Chelsea academy to a full time playing role, achieving legendary status on the way.
Seeing him go all out on the field, every single time, rallies the Stamford Bridge faithful like nothing else and hell hath no fury like a Blues fan scorned, when one of their favourite sons gets treated like dirt (as was seen when Terry was sidelined during Rafa Benitez’s reign as interim manager).
Seeing the Englishman bid goodbye to his playing career, especially with Chelsea, will be one of the saddest (yet proudest) days for a Blues fan.
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