I wrote a few weeks ago about Chelsea’s John Terry being reinstated as the captain of England’s national team, having been stripped of it in February of 2010, after his alleged affair with former team-mate Wayne Bridge’s former girlfriend. Manager Fabio Capello, recently decided with the injury sidelining Rio Ferdinand, the replacement captain of the Three Lions, that the squad would be better off, and that the other players would be in favor of Terry regaining his official role of team leader.
As detailed by ESPN.soccernet, Terry received the vocal support of several players who spoke publicly. He discussed his call from Ferdinand: “ Rio called me which was a very nice touch and goes to show what a great man Rio is……….We had a ten minute conversation and he wished me well. He cares about England and said the most important thing was to keep winning.” Terry also described how his re-elevation to the captaincy was announced to the team. “ The manager pulled everyone together to say I was captain and asked if there were any problems and nothing was said. If anyone had any problems I would respect them if they came to me……… I am not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, as I have read and seen, but it is a decision the manager has taken. I had to respect that when he took it away from me and I did that. I think he has looked at that.”
The Blues defender also received solid support from Manchester City’s midfielder James Milner. “ Everyone’s happy for JT. It’s obviously disappointing for Rio. We’re fortunate to have a number of leaders in this squad. He puts his head in where a lot of people wouldn’t. He leads off the field as well. The manager makes his decision and we stand behind them. JT is a leader, he might not have been captain over the last year but he’s not changed the way he has been. The most important thing is leading on and off the field and as an England player he’s been absolutely fantastic”.
Tottenham striker, Peter Crouch, dismissed suggestions that there was any internal disapproval of Terry returning in his role as captain once again: “ There are no problems with anyone. There was a lot of talk over unrest, but it was not an issue at all. John Terry has always been fantastic on the pitch, has lead Chelsea to doubles. He’s a great leader on the pitch and will be again for England. The manager likes defenders to be the captain for a long, long time. He wears his heart on his sleeve and tries to bring out the best in all others around him,which is why he is such a leader. All the players are happy”
England will play in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales on Sunday.
The only people who were against John Terry retaining his captaincy last year, were fans of rival teams in the EPL, and some in the media, who may have been fans of other Premiership teams as well. The faithful following at Stamford Bridge never had any problem with his leadership, and after he was removed from his role of captain with England, they protested the move by unfurling banners praising him, with Terry’s face on them. His temporary loss of the leadership, was obviously a public relations move, which accomplished nothing, and was obviously detrimental to the team, in light of their poor performance at the World Cup tournament in South Africa last summer. This move shows great leadership by manager Fabio Capello, in recognizing the counterproductive result of his intervention last year, to remove the Chelsea captain from the same role with England.
The fans of Manchester United quite clearly didn’t care, that super-star striker Wayne Rooney, was alleged to have been involved in a relationship with another woman, while his wife was pregnant, last summer. If he can still receive the fan adulation for his on the field accomplishments, and he does, then there is no need now, and there never was any need, to remove John Terry from his leadership role with the Lions.