Controversy's favourite child: John Terry
John Terry. The name which every Chelsea fan knows and adores. The famous “Captain Leader Legend” banner at Stamford Bridge evokes emotions like no other. He has been an inspirational leader for Chelsea, having played a big role to take the club where it is today. John has been a one club man throughout his life, starting his career in 1998, and breaking into the first team in 2001. He is one of the greatest center backs of all time. There is nothing to doubt his on-field skills.
But it’s what he does off it, which has been in the limelight throughout his career. In September 2001, Terry was fined wages for two weeks, for an incident involving American tourists at the Heathrow airport. In 2009, John Terry was investigated for taking money from an undercover reporter, for a private tour of Chelsea’s training ground, although later he was cleared of all charges.
It was in January 2010 that news broke out of John Terry having a 4 month long affair with Vanessa Perroncel, girlfriend of his former Chelsea and England team mate Wayne Bridge. Once best friends, they turned foes due to this news. Bridge even refused to shake hands with John Terry at a subsequent match against Manchester City. The FA even stripped Terry of his captaincy of the England team. Rio Ferdinand was made the captain. But Terry was reinstated as a captain the following year.
Then in November 2011, Terry was again under investigation for alleged racist comments he made on Anton Ferdinand, during the hotly contested game against QPR. He was charged for using racist language on 21st December 2011 by the Crown prosecution service. Again he was stripped of his England captaincy in 2012. During the trial, Terry pleaded not guilty and was later acquitted of all charges.
However, the FA recently found him guilty of racism and imposed a fine of 220K pounds and a 4 match ban. John Terry had also announced retirement from International football. He said in a statement that the FA’s decision to pursue charges against him means his position with England has become “untenable”. No doubt England will miss him both as a player and a leader.
John Terry has never let all these controversies affect his on field game. He’s still a regular in the Chelsea line up, and his performances speak volumes about him. He has been jeered by the crowd in almost all the stadiums, yet it has not affected his game. He is still the same player he was almost 10 years ago, and for all Chelsea fans, he still remains a Captain, Leader, Legend!