Footballer Profile - John Terry

 If a footballer played along with his heart on his sleeve, that man is John Terry.

I haven't any means of knowing the reality of these story or elsewhere but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it wasn't true. Apparently, John Terry has got the ball he so horribly miskicked from the penalty spot in the Champions League final against Manchester United two seasons ago sitting in his house so he can see it every day. It should have been the worst moment of his career; and his genuine emotion was evident for everybody to see. Now, he uses it as a spur to his determination to make amends. That sums up the man.

John Terry was, needless to say, the only Englishman selected for the All Star team by the end of the 2006 World Cup - and that's one of the honours that came the way of the Chelsea and England captain. jps tabak Twice considered the Best Defender in the Champions League, the PFA Players'Player of 2005 and in the FIFPro World XI for four consecutive seasons, he was also the very first England player to score at the New Wembley - heading home a David Beckham free kick in the one all draw with Brazil in June, 2007.

Twenty nine at the beginning of December, 2009, Terry is a first team regular at Chelsea since the beginning of the decade. After having a few games on loan at Nottingham Forest, he quickly became a permanent fixture in the Chelsea team and has played alongside a few of the modern game's best central defenders - Marcel Desailly, William Gallas and Ricardo Carvalho. Ironically, when he joined the London club at 14 years of age, Terry was a midfield player but it soon became apparent that the heart of the defence would be the very best area for this dominating, strong player.

Terry's courage, and complete commitment to the cause of his Chelsea and England teams, is becoming legendary. This is a man who'd willingly put himself in jeopardy in order to prevent an objective - and who clearly expects nothing less from the players around him. This selfless dedication, needless to say, almost had tragic consequences through the League Cup Final of 2007 against Arsenal when, diving in front of an opposition player, he was kicked in the head. Unconscious and nearly swallowing his tongue, only the prompt action of Gary Levin, the Arsenal physio, who rushed onto the pitch to take the necessary action, ensured that tragedy was avoided.

Never afraid of the physical side of defending, it could be a surprise to find out that Terry didn't receive his first'straight red card'until as recently as September 2008 in a match against Manchester City, although he has received his share of confrontations with opposition players.

He's also scored his great amount of important goals - usually with headers from corner or free kicks. Of the 36 goals he's scored for Chelsea, in his 427 matches in every competitions, many have already been vital for the club; and these have obviously meant so much for this Chelsea stalwart and icon.

I'm sure there are lots of Chelsea fans who've already changed their screensavers showing John Terry celebrating his winning goal against Manchester United in the league recently. How good must which have made his feel?