John George Terry is an English professional football player. Terry plays as a centre back and is currently the captain of both Chelsea in the English Premier League and the national football team of England.
Background
Born on the 7th December 1980 in Barking, John George Terry was born and bred to play football and support Chelsea F.C. Playing for school side Senrab he was always destined to make the big time with such players as Sol Campbell, Jermain Defoe, Bobby Zamora, and Ledley King just a few of the other names who have made it to the top flight progressing through this side. John joined Chelsea’s academy at the age of 14 as a central midfielder and if it wasn’t for a shortage of centre backs at the time we may not have seen the Terry we all know today. Once moved to centre back there was no going back, John Terry the potential star was born.
Career
The defensive inspiration for Chelsea and England, John Terry has shown remarkable resilience despite the off-field dramas that have threatened to derail his career.
One of the few to have graduated from the Chelsea Academy to the first team, Terry went on loan to Nottingham Forest in 2000 before establishing himself alongside Marcel Desailly in the Blues' defence. In 2004, he was named the Chelsea captain and led the side to back-to-back Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho, as well as FA Cup success.
First called up to the England squad in 2003, he cemented his place in the first-team at Euro 2004 and rose to captain his country under Steve McClaren after the 2006 World Cup. Making his name as a commanding centre-back, Terry's influence continued to rise, but he missed the crucial penalty in the 2008 Champions League final against Manchester United, allowing Chelsea's Premier League rivals to take home the trophy.
He has twice been stripped of the England captaincy. In February 2010, he lost the armband after a series of tabloid stories about an alleged affair between Terry and the former partner of England, and one-time Chelsea, team-mate Wayne Bridge. It led to Fabio Capello removing the armband, but Terry ended the season on a high as Chelsea claimed the Double.
He again came in for criticism for off-field matters during England's woeful World Cup campaign in 2010 when he was accused of undermining Capello during a press conference, and in 2012 he lost the captaincy for a second time when he was accused of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand. He was later cleared in court but found guilty by the FA and was handed a four-match ban and fined £220,000.
Terry realised his dream of lifting the Champions League trophy with Chelsea in May 2012, but he had sat out the match through suspension after a moment of madness against Barcelona in the previous round.
Religion
Terry is non-religious, though his infidelities have caught the eye of the Anglican Church.
Politics
Terry is non-political, unless racist is a political position.
