Captain, Leader, Legend \u2013 those are the three words that Chelsea fans will forever refer to when they describe John Terry. The Blues stalwart, who has featured for the club since 1998, played a pivotal role in their Premier League success last season and is likely to be heavily involved in the upcoming campaign despite Chelsea\u2019s interest in John Stones.<\/p>\n
While Stones\u2019 arrival could signal the beginning of the end for Terry, the 34-year-old has got plenty to give and will be desperate to help the Blues retain their title. Jose Mourinho has always been a huge fan of Terry and it is difficult to imagine a Chelsea side without their instrumental leader in the starting line-up. After 18 seasons at the club, his time at Stamford Bridge is slowly coming to an end.<\/p>\n
Excluding the 2012-13 Premier League campaign, Terry has missed just 20 matches in the past six seasons \u2013 an incredibly achievement. Terry\u2019s longevity and consistency sets him apart from every defender to grace England\u2019s top flight; both past and present. He is, without a doubt, the greatest centre-back to play in the Premier League and one of the best in Chelsea\u2019s 110-year history.<\/p>\n
Loved by Chelsea but loathed by others, Terry\u2019s off-field antics have landed him in trouble on multiple occasions yet he still finds a way to focus all of his efforts on his football. While the jury may be out on Terry as a person, every football fan on the planet respects the 34-year-old for his dependability, reliability and passion at the heart of the defence.<\/p>\n
Terry has defied the odds and, at 34 years old, remains in excellent physical shape. Last season, the Chelsea captain became the first outfield player since Gary Pallister to play every minute for a Premier League title winning side. While Pallister achieved the feat over a 42-game season, he was seven years Terry\u2019s junior at the time \u2013 a statistic that confirms the magnitude of his performance.<\/p>\n
As the Blues eye up a move for Stones, Terry\u2019s role will still be important but his influence may be more prominent in the dressing room. England international Gary Cahill has been a regular alongside Terry in each of the past three seasons, while Kurt Zouma also produced some brilliant performances last season in Cahill\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n
Chelsea are stacked with talented defenders and age will eventually catch up with the veteran defender. Terry\u2019s knowledge of the game will prove beneficial as the Blues enter a new era without \u2018Mr Chelsea\u2019 playing on a weekly basis and both Cahill and Zouma will benefit from their time with Terry.<\/p>\n
However, he\u2019s not finished yet. In fact, Terry is far from done. Mourinho knows the importance of big-game players and the 34-year-old is likely to play in Chelsea\u2019s crucial matches this campaign. As Sir Alex Ferguson did with Ryan Giggs, the Blues boss will select Terry carefully and his leadership skills will come in handy in their huge Premier League clashes and titanic European fixtures.<\/p>\n