Captain, Leader, Legend

James · February 6, 2010

When Fabio Capello took the England captaincy away from John Terry on a frost-bitten Friday afternoon in early February, a lot of people did not know how to react.

Some were happy, with allegations of the player’s private life being revealed through media tabloids written by self-righteous, sanctimonious hypocrites.

Others were outraged by the former Real Madrid manager’s decision. For within Terry lived the spirit of Bobby Moore; the golden-haired hero of 1966. A natural-born leader who’s commitment and dedication cannot be questioned, Terry represented all that was good about England’s hopes in South Africa; passion, determination, desire.

Capello’s call would not be the first time England’s tournament hopes have been left in tatters by an Italian, however.

The captaincy has now been given to Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand; a man who’s last outing in an England shirt saw the Dutch take a 2-0 lead in Eindhoven because of a pair of defensive howlers on his part. A man who played just ten times for his club this season. A man who has been accused of speeding and drunk-driving, which has seen him earn four driving bans. A man who has been banned because of missing drugs tests, and a man who uttered a homophobic remark over the radio.

And let’s not forget how his blunder saw England reduced to ten man after Robert Green was sent off because of his horrendous back-pass? A blunder that cost England from having an otherwise-perfect qualifying campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Now, John Terry is no saint, but on footballing grounds, Capello’s decision is one of ridicule. Ferdinand’s consistent flirtations with injury mean the mere concept of ‘form’ is something that he cannot be associated with. A string of injuries has seen his footballing endeavours limited to little over twenty games over the last nine months.

But what does the decision solve? Nothing. Terry will still be in the England squad. He will still continue to give his all for England, and he will continue to be one of this country’s greatest hopes for glory in the summer.

Ferdinand may well wear the armband, and ultimately may lift the World Cup, but it will not be the Manchester United defender that leads England. There will be eleven captains on the pitch, but only a handful stand out.

Who else could have been captain? Steven Gerrard? A man alleged to have smashed a DJ around the face with a bottle? Wayne Rooney? Someone too immature to wear the armband for his country; we can all remember his antics against Portugal four years back. A world-class player, yes, but he lacks the temperament to lead his country on an assault of the greatest prize in world football. Beckham and Hargreaves – two other names associated with the role – cannot be guaranteed to even be in the tournament.

That leaves us with two men; two men who have never let Chelsea Football Club down – John Terry and Frank Lampard. They will be the two men who, along with the aforesaid Rooney, will lead England into battle.

Terry’s loss of the armband will be a massive psychological blow for the defender. It is an honour unparalleled to captain your country, in any circumstance. It is a dream that flirted with the Chelsea skipper’s mind for years. Consistent displays, week-in, week-out at Stamford Bridge – lifting eight trophies as Blues captain – saw him earn the armband. Pure recklessness and stupidity cost him it.

So whilst England’s hopes for the World Cup have taken a blow, with the whole squad in disrepute following these sensational allegations against Terry, other teams have strengthened. The Germany team has met up on team-building days. The French have moved on from the Henry handball incident. The Spanish are still thriving from their European glory in 2008. Brazil and Argentina look as strong as ever.

2010 was our best chance for glory. It seems those chances are now dust. Not just because of Terry being stripped of the armband, but moreso because of the wake the incident has left behind it.

So whilst other World Cup favourites are rebuilding, England are falling to pieces. The squad is divided. The FA may say that the dressing room still has confidence in Terry as a player, but antics like this will cost England the World Cup.

This season was to be one of great promise for Terry – for both club and country. As England captain, he would have looked to lift that famous trophy in front of a packed stadium in Johannesburg. As Chelsea captain, a club first Treble looks as likely as it ever has.

Now, only one of those is a possibility. Chelsea are top of the Premier League, will be into the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup should they beat Cardiff, and are into the last sixteen of the Champions League, whilst already having earned the Community Shield title.

A season of much promise for England seems unlikely, but a year of glory awaits Chelsea Football Club.

So Chelsea fans should get behind their captain. A chorus of his name should be sung against Arsenal on Sunday. He might be disgraced and bloodied, but John Terry remains Chelsea – and England – through and through.

John Terry – captain, leader, legend.