JT was 22 but he smashed me!

JOHN TERRY is the ultimate centre back. His winning mentality is second to none. His record speaks for itself — four Premier League titles, five FA Cups and the Champions League among 14 major trophies for Chelsea. He guaranteed silverware. If I were the manager of a side like West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City or West Ham I would not hesitate in snapping him up for a year. Terry has been the Premier League’s most consistent defender in the past 15 years. I found out just how tenacious he was the first time I played against him for Tottenham against Chelsea in 2003. I was on the ball having just gone in hard on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Two seconds later, Terry came flying in and absolutely smashed into me. He was only 22 but it told you everything about him. Terry showed he was nobody’s fool and was prepared for retribution should one of his team-mates get hurt. So many centre backs want to be midfielders now but Terry is old school. There has not been a better player at defending the front post. Terry has rarely been caught out of position — it seemed like he got in the way of every cross — and he can hit a 30-yard pass with either foot. He has also been a menace in both penalty boxes for Chelsea, scoring 66 goals with 40 in the Premier League — a record for a defender. Terry is the master of self preservation. Towards the end of his time at Chelsea a few managers tried to take him on but there was only ever one winner. He is a strong character who knows how to look after himself. For me, Terry and Arsenal’s Tony Adams stand together as the Premier League’s greatest captains. It will be some time before we see another defender like him.