There comes a time in every player’s career that they must hang up their boots, and move into a different aspect of the game. However, John Terry continues to prove that good football is timeless, and remains the best Premier League defender at 34.
Our captain has exemplified what most kids dream of. Begin with a club at a young age, stay with them throughout their career, become a club hero, represent their country at the highest of competitions, and at some point, retire a legend. While that last bit continues to pass Terry by, at some point, he’ll have no choice but to step down.
While his skill on the pitch will be tough to replace, it’s his leadership that will make the toughest challenge to replicate. Terry is one of the most important players for Chelsea because of his charismatic qualities. He helps mentor the young player and usher them into the first team. He commands respect both in the locker room and on the pitch.
That’s what makes him so impossible to replace at Chelsea. It’s not just his skill, but his leadership. He’s not just a captain, he’s one of the greatest captains in the history of football. And that’s not easy to replace. So while many people focus on how to replace Terry’s skill, I’d like to look at potential players that could take the captain’s armband from the Englishman once he retires.
There are several players on the Blues who would be in the running. However, I would elect that the Blues choose a player who could remain the captain for a long time.
For example, one of my first choices would be Ivanovic. Having been a Chelsea player for a while now, he fully understands what it means to step onto the pitch in Stamford Bridge, and how he would need to keep every player up to par. That being said, Ivanovic is on the wrong side of 30, and represents someone who hasn’t more than 5 years left at the highest level. To me, that would rule him of out this conversation.
This leaves us with several players vying for the armband, and we will discuss all of their resumes for the position.
First up for the job, has to be Eden Hazard. There are several reasons to make him captain. Most importantly for the Blues, it would help to further tie him down to West London. While they just secured him to a contract, Hazard would find it much more difficult to depart from Stamford Bridge if he were captain.
Furthermore, Hazard is considered to be one of the best young players in the world. There are several aspects that come with a title like that. One of them include strong leadership skills. For example, Messi captains Argentina, Philipp Lahm has been the man for Germany, and Cristiano Ronaldo does so for Portugal. The best players take on this responsibility, and Hazard could do the same at this Chelsea.
Finally, Hazard is still maturing and growing. He has plenty of time left in his career and would represent a long term option for the Blues at Stamford Bridge. He is a brilliant player and would lead Chelsea for years to come. How would that not be tempting for Mourinho to make him captain?
Moving on, another great option for the role is Azpilicueta. Dave, while a fan favourite is also highly regarded amongst his peers at Chelsea. Mourinho also adores the Spaniard, saying that if he could, he’d play with 11 Azpilicueta’s on the pitch. That’s pretty good praise from a man of Mourinho’s stature. Plus, he kept one of the world’s best left backs of recent seasons in Filipe Luis out of the starting line-up, and he did this while playing on his weaker side.
So how would Dave be as a captain, well skill wise, he’s one of the best fullbacks in the world. He’s easily the best one-on-one defender in the Premier League, and has marked several top players out of matches. Additionally, the attitude that Azpilicueta displays on the pitch is one that every player should have. The Spaniard truly works tirelessly every game for his side, and is always in the right position, battling for his squad.
Furthermore, in attack the 25-year-old tends to sit back, rather than join in attack. This allows him to see the field and communicate effectively with his teammates. Azpilicueta has also benefitted from playing alongside Terry for the last few seasons. It has allowed him to grow and develop into one of Chelsea’s most consistent performers.
With the trust of Mourinho, the acceptance of the fans, and the popularity amongst his teammates, Dave would surely make a great captain in West London.
Moving on, another great option to wear the captain’s armband at Stamford Bridge is Cesc Fabregas. He has come into the team and fully revolutionized the makeup of the squad. Chelsea are now a threat much deeper on the pitch. He’s become an instant fan favourite and Cesc sees the pitch better than most players.
Furthermore, he is loved by Mourinho, who seems to have made him a necessity in this Chelsea squad. He is also fully grasping what it takes to be a Mourinho player. His attitude towards Chelsea fans and the squad as a whole is positive and excited. He gives the impression that he’s excited every week to pull the Blue jersey over his head. And that’s what you want in a captain.
Making Fabregas captain would bring many good things to the Chelsea side. He’s excited, smart and most importantly well respected. Furthermore, he’s got plenty of time on his side, and his style of play should allow him to grace the pitch at Stamford Bridge for years to come. And as an added bonus, making him captain will wind up Arsenal fans, and not many Chelsea fans can resist that.
I think there are a few more players who would also make strong candidates. These include Nemanja Matic, one day Kurt Zouma or even Gary Cahill. However, I think that the three mentioned above would be a better fit for the captain’s armband at Chelsea. However, all of the options mentioned wouldn’t be a bad choice for Mourinho.
I believe that in the next few years, we must begin to brace ourselves for a world after John Terry. While this will sting, and impact us both on and off the field, preparation is our best chance of survival.
That being said, while Mourinho will not just have to replace his skill, he will also need to find a man who can take over his leadership role. I personally believe that the top two men that should wear the armband next is Cesc Fabregas and Cesar Azpilicueta. To me, those are the two strongest candidates for the position.
Whoever Mourinho chooses to be the leader of Chelsea after John Terry will undoubtedly have large shoes to fill. Hopefully the Blues will offer Terry a coaching role, and therefore he won’t be that far away. Whatever the case, Chelsea are fortunate to have several strong personalities who will be able to take the reins.
What do you think? Let us know your choice in the comments section below!
