5 contenders for Chelsea's captaincy if John Terry leaves
Who will replace John Terry as the captain of Chelsea?With John Terry having all but confirmed that he isn't getting a contract extension with Chelsea Football Club, not only does it leave the club without their senior most player but more importantly, it leaves them without their talismanic captain – one who has guided them to the very pinnacle of European football as well as multiple domestic titles. Having already lost big characters in Frank Lampard, Petr Cech and Didier Drogba in recent seasons, John Terry's absence from the Chelsea team next season will leave the responsibility with some of Chelsea's other stars – ones who won't necessarily get the whole range of emotions while captaining the London club. Here's looking at five players Chelsea can look at to pass on the armband:
#5 John Obi Mikel
The Nigerian is one of Chelsea's longest serving players having joined the Londoners in 2006 but has never established a regular starting spot through the nine-and-a-half-years at the club. Having amassed 236 appearances for Chelsea, he would be an obvious choice to take over as the captain of the club given most of his teammates don't have nearly the starts he does.
As well as being one of the long-standing members of the squad, Mikel is one of the more mature players in the current squad often called upon to right a shaky ship. With his positional abilities and his prowess in reading the game, Mikel is a wall and extremely hard to get through even for the best of attacks and midfields.
Mikel's biggest strength however is his strength and his calmness on the ball. Chelsea players have often counter on the Nigerian to get them out of tight situations with his patience on the ball. The serenity that he oozes could be a huge influence for when Chelsea really need their man and this is why he'd make an able captain for the club in the absence of John Terry.