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5 Blues Who Could Become Chelsea FC’s Next Captain

By George Perry

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: John Terry of Chelsea appeals to an assistant referee during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on March 19, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: John Terry of Chelsea appeals to an assistant referee during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on March 19, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) /
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WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23: John Terry of Chelsea talks to Kurt Zouma of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea at The Hawthorns on August 23, 2015 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 23: John Terry of Chelsea talks to Kurt Zouma of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea at The Hawthorns on August 23, 2015 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

1. Kurt Zouma

Zouma was being groomed as John Terry’s successor, and to all appearances he was a younger, faster, more physically imposing version of the Englishman. Like Terry, he could not only anchor his defense but could use his size and will to hammer home set-piece goals. He opened his Premier League account with a soaring header against Arsenal at home, in a game best remembered for Diego Costa’s slap-fight with Gabriel Paulista (spoiler alert: Costa does not make this list).

His growth with the club came at Gary Cahill’s expense, as Zouma was slotted in next to Terry even as Cahill was assuming the vice-captain role for England. Still, we knew that Zouma-Cahill was Chelsea’s centerback tandem for the future.

Zouma’s physical presence gives him command of his space and his prowess on both ends of the pitch seemed to give him a growing charge of the game and his squad. Unfortunately, his season ended with an ACL tear. We’ll have to wait well into next season to see if his physicality and confidence returns to a level that will allow him to secure his spot as starting centerback and grow into a team leader.

Next: 2. Willian

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