Chelsea legend Terry comes of age

By Matthew Majendie

JOHN TERRY FACTFILE Born: 7/12/80 Position: Centre-half Club debut: 28/10/98 v Aston Villa First goal: 20/02/2000 v Gillingham Full England debut: 3/6/2003 v Serbia & Montenegro England caps: 17 Made Chelsea captain: 22/7/2004 Wins PFA Player of the Year: 24/04/2005 John Terry's career stats

Marcel Desailly has called him a "Chelsea legend in the making", while Jose Mourinho believes he's the "perfect player".

And on Sunday, John Terry learned that respect stretched throughout his peers, after they voted him PFA Player of the Year.

Terry has been one of the spearheads of Chelsea's remarkable season, the fulcrum of a stout defence and committed to the Stamford Bridge cause at every level.

Few, if any, of the Bridge faithful would dare question that commitment from the moment he first made his mark.

It came at a training session in the days when the club's hierarchy was made up of Dennis Wise, Marcel Desailly and Mark Hughes.

Newly-appointed manager Gianluca Vialli was playing in a training session only to be clattered to the ground in a challenge by a young and fiery Terry.

The 24-year-old said: "The other lads said 'you can't do that' but he came over and shook my hand and said 'that's what I want to see' and that no matter who a player is, they are to be kicked on a match day."

Terry has taken that advice onto the field, thanks in part to former defensive partner Marcel Desailly, described as a "big influence" by the Chelsea captain.

Desailly, who believes Terry will stay at Stamford Bridge to the end of his career, said: "He is young but he has grown up. I hope I've taught him that off the pitch he has to be a leader."

Terry will be among those to admit his attitude off the field needed to change.

In 2002, he appeared in court for his involvement in a nightclub brawl - he was later cleared of an affray charge.

He was also among some Chelsea players to hassle American tourists in a bar in the wake of the September 11 attacks the previous year.

But over the last two seasons, there has been a new-found maturity to him - both on and off the field - resulting in him being awarded the captaincy's armband - a popular choice among his peers.

To be England captain would mean an awful lot John Terry

And his professional approach has ensured that he has kept his cool despite the many accolades which have come his way.

And Terry said: "My team-mates speak well of me and I like to be a leader - be a bit of a joker around the place and help the lads on and off the pitch.

"On the pitch I'm very vocal. If someone needs to get told, they get told - it doesn't matter who they are. It's something that has stuck with me since I was a kid."

No-one would doubt that the new maturity of Terry has made him an ideal team player - but he has been quick to give credit for that quality to the Chelsea boss.

"He is a great man personally and all the lads fully respect him and want to keep winning for him - he has instilled that winning mentality in us all," he said.

Terry added: "That relationship with the manager is special and we are probably the only side which has that.

"After I was made captain, my confidence flew up during pre-season, and with him telling you that you are the best, you feel a million dollars and are on top of the world."

Terry first came into the Chelsea side when Frank Lebouef got injured. The World Cup winner never really got back into the side.

But while he flourished at domestic level, his international chances were effectively scuppered by his off-field shenanigans until 2003 when he made a belated debut against Serbia & Montenegro.

With Rio Ferdinand suspended, he was named at centre-half for Euro 2004, but struggled in the tournament with a hamstring injury.

In the space of a year, though, he has gone from being England's third-choice centre back to arguably being one half of Sven Goran Eriksson first-choice pairing.

And his assured performances have led to many tipping him as a future international captain.

The man himself said: "To be England captain would mean an awful lot to everyone but at the moment we have got a great captain in David Beckham anyway."

At this rate, Beckham could soon have a rival.