John Terry, footballing legend and Chelsea hero, graduated from Chelsea youth academy to become an international star. His imposing strength, natural skill and bulldog spirit have made him the backbone of both Chelsea and England's staunch defences. Born in London, and raised through the Chelsea youth teams, Terry's extraordinary talent soon had him replacing World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf to become a first team favourite amongst the Stamford Bridge faithful. But Terry's progress has not all been plain sailing. In 2002, when he was on the verge of realising his dream of playing for England after some outstanding displays in the under-21 team, he was involved in an incident outside a nightclub. With his career in the balance, Terry battled back and, having been cleared of any charges, he became stronger than ever before. Now an indomitable force in the national side, Terry was a fundamental figure in England's 2006 World Cup campaign, and one of the few players actually to enhance his reputation in the tournament.
Handed the captain's armband under Jose Mourinho's inspirational new regime, backed by Roman Abramovich's formidable buying power, Terry is proof that some qualities simply can't be bought. A bid from rivals Manchester City in 2009 would lead nowehere: Terry is Chelsea through and through. Leading the Blues to win the FA Cup in 2009, along with back-to-back Premiership titles from 2004-2006, Terry's immense leadership skills have earned him the respect of his fellow pros and fans alike. Having also been presented with the ultimate honour of captaining his country through the 2010 World Cup, Chelsea and England's world class stopper is sure to be giving strikers sleepless nights for years to come.