Terry, John George (1980– )

English footballer, who in August 2006 became captain of the England national team. A commanding central defender, he is a strong tackler and dominant in the air. Born in London, he made his debut for Chelsea in 1998 and established himself in the first team during the 2000–01 season when he was voted the club's player of the year. He was made Chelsea captain in 2004 and a year later was voted the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year, as well as being voted the best defender in the European Cup, where Chelsea reached the semi-finals. In 2005, he also led Chelsea to their first English League title for 50 years, and they retained the title the following year. Having made his England debut in June 2003, he represented his country in the 2004 European Championships and in the 2006 World Cup.

Career highlights

International appearances (2003– ) 44 (4 goals)

English League Championship 2005, 2006

English FA Cup 2000, 2007

English League Cup 2005, 2007

Awards

Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year 2005

In 2007, he led Chelsea to a League Cup and FA Cup double. At the end of the season, Terry signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea making him the highest-paid player in Premier League history. In the 2008 Champions League final, Terry missed a penalty in the shootout that would have won the European Cup for Chelsea.