One of the finest defenders in the history of football, Terry was a true blue Chelsea man who led the team to the pinnacle of success. They don't make them like this anymore.
In cricket, the scorers, i.e., the batsmen, are often hailed by the fans, and they hog all the limelight. The story is no different in football, where attackers and midfielders mostly grab praise from all quarters but not John Terry. A defender of the highest stature, when Terry was on the field, the eyes of the fans were glued to him, whereas his eyes were on the attackers like a combat jet, ready to intercept and take down if the situation called for it.
As Terry turns 43 today, we take a look at his career at Chelsea, a club that made him a legend—a club that became legendary because of him.
As a boy, Terry rose up the ranks of the West Ham youth system, which forced the Chelsea scouts to acquire his services in 1991 when he was merely 14. Seven years later, in 1998, Terry made his Chelsea debut as a substitute against Aston Villa, whereas his first full start happened against Oldham Athletic.
The 2000–01 season became the breakthrough season for Terry as he formed a formidable defensive partnership with Marcel Desailly. 2002 was the season when a young Terry captained Chelsea for the first time as the team reached the FA Cup final. Terry was crucial in the semi-final because his only goal against Fulham helped Chelsea reach the final. However, Chelsea succumbed to Arsenal by 2-0 in the finale.
However, it must be noted Terry slipped to the position of vice-captain under Desailly’s leadership up until the latter’s departure.
Following Desailly's departure, Terry became Chelsea's captain because of his efforts that helped Chelsea win the Premier League in 2004-05, a season when the team created the best defensive record in the history of football. The same season, Terry was voted the Player of the Year, Best Defender in the Champions League, and a member of the World XI at the FIFPro Awards.
In 2005-06, Chelsea once again lifted the Premier League, but from the 2006-2007 season, the situation turned tough for Terry as injuries came to haunt him. A back problem in December forced Terry off the pitch, and he missed three months of football, returning in late February. A full 90-minute display against Middlesbrough earned him praise from the Chelsea fans, who saw a boy turning into a leader.
Terry continued to remain an impenetrable defender for Chelsea, leading the team to the Premier League in 2009-10, 2014-15 and 2016-17. In 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12, and 2016-17, his efforts helped the Blues win the FA Cup. With Terry in the squad, Chelsea also spread its wings in Europe, lifting the Champions League in 2011-12, followed by the Europa League 2012-13.
In short, in the club's 118 years of history, Terry became the most successful captain at Stamford Bridge. Terry left the club after playing 717 games across all competitions, only third behind Harris and Peter Bonetti. He also scored 41 goals in the Premier League, the highest by a defender, whereas 67 for Chelsea, another highest by a defender in the club's history.
As of now, Terry is serving as Chelsea's academy coach. However, given his leadership qualities, he is expected to lead the team as its gaffer in the years to come.
