14 October 2006 - Terry Takes A Turn In Goal

On 14 October 2006, Chelsea needed three goalkeepers to get through their match against Reading, with captain John Terry pulling on the gloves for a bit.

Playing in a league game at Reading's Madjeski Stadium, Chelsea lost starting goalkeeper Petr Cech after just 20 seconds. Diving to make a save at the feet of Reading's Stephen Hunt, Cech took a blow to the head that fractured his skull. He left the pitch on a stretcher and was replaced by substitute keeper Carlo Cudicini.

Reading tested Cuducini, but it was Chelsea who took the lead after Reading defender Ivar Ingemarsson put the ball in his net off a Frank Lampard free kick in the 45th minute.

In the second half, both teams went down to 10 men as Chelsea's John Obi Mikel (in the 62nd minute) and Reading substitute André Bikey (in the 83rd) both received second yellow cards and were sent off. Then, shortly before the final whistle, Cuducini collided with Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko and lost consciousness. Having already used all three substitutes, manager José Mourinho sent John Terry into goal.

With only moments left, Terry had little to do to see out the 0-1 win.

27 July 2007 - Clearly, I Am In The Wrong Business

On 27 July 2007, Chelsea captain John Terry became the highest-paid player in Premier League history. For a while, anyway.

The Blues had just completed a three-year run in which they won the league twice (2005, 2006), then finished as runners-up to Manchester United (2007). They also won the FA Cup and the League Cup in 2007. Terry, who was also the England captain at the time, had two years remaining on his existing contract that paid him a reported £67,000 per week, well behind teammates Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko, who were both earning close to £120,000.

Terry's contract negotiations dragged out over a couple of months, but the defender maintained throughout that he had no intention of leaving the club. In July, Chelsea rewarded his loyalty with a new five-year deal that paid him close to £135,000 per week to surpass the record previously held by Ballack and Shevchenko. But Terry's status as the league's best-paid player did not last long. In August 2008, Chelsea signed midfielder Frank Lampard to a new deal worth £140,000 per week (which triggered an increase in Terry's pay to the same level). 


Currently, Wayne Rooney is the Premier League's highest player with a deal worth a reported £260,000 per week.

26 March 2008 - Beckham Hits One Hundred

On 26 March 2008, 32-year old David Beckham reached his 100th cap when he started for England in a friendly against France.

It was milestone that Beckham looked unlikely to reach after England's elimination from the 2006 World Cup. Following their loss to Portugal in quarterfinals, Beckham's 94th international appearance, he resigned as England's captain. Although he expressed a desire to continue with the side in a subservient role, he was dropped altogether by new England boss Steve McClaren. A poor run of form changed McClaren's mind and he recalled Beckham to the national squad in May 2007.

Beckham performed well, but it was not enough to save McClaren's job - he was soon sacked in favor of Beckham's former Real Madrid boss, Fabio Capello. With Beckham sitting on 99 caps, he was not included in Capello's first match in charge, a friendly against Switzerland on 6 February 2008. The decision created speculation that Capello's English side had no place for Beckham, but Beckham was included for Capello's second match in charge - the friendly against France.

The match itself had mixed results for England. France controlled the pace and flow, creating far more scoring chances than the visitors. To their credit, though, the English defense was stout, repeatedly denying the French attack. The match's only goal came from the spot, as Nicolas Anelka drew a foul from his Chelsea teammate John Terry. Franck Ribéry buried the ensuing kick in the 32nd minute.

28 October 1998 - He's A One-Club Man

On 28 October 1998, 17-year old center back John Terry made his first appearance for Chelsea's senior team, coming on as a second-half substitute in a League Cup match against Aston Villa. Chelsea won 4-1.

Terry was born in London on 7 December 1980 and played for the Chelsea youth team from 1995 to 1998. He signed his professional contract with the Blues for the 1998-99 season, making 6 appearances.

In 2004, new manager Jose Mourinho handed the captain's armband to Terry, who rewarded the decision by leading Chelsea to back to back league titles in 2005 and 2006.

Apart from a brief loan spell with Nottingham Forest in the 1999-2000 season, Terry has spent his entire club career with Chelsea. Through the 2008-09 season, he had made 404 appearances for the London club. He added a third league title in 2010 and has also won the Champions League (2012), five FA Cups (2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012), two League Cups (2005, 2007), and two Community Shields (2005, 2009).

23 September 2012 - John Terry Calls It Quits

On 23 September 2012, England captain John Terry called time on his international career in the midst of a racism scandal.

The Chelsea defender debuted for England in August 2003 and was named captain by manager Steve McClaren after the 2006 World Cup. In 2008, McClaren's replacement, Fabio Capello, retained Terry as captain, but stripped the armband from him in 2010 when the defender was accused of having an extramarital affair. Although Terry played every minute of England's games at the 2010 World Cup, midfielder Steven Gerrard served as the team's skipper.

Capello reinstated Terry as captain in March 2011. But toward the end of the year, Terry was accused of using racist language against QPR's Anton Ferdinand. The FA stepped in and stripped the captaincy from him in February 2012 in advance of a court hearing later that month. The move was made over the objections of Capello, who resigned in protest.

Terry was acquitted in court, but the FA initiated their own proceedings against him, bringing formal charges in July 2012. Then, in September, the night before the hearing, he decided to retire from international football, claiming that the FA's action had made his position "untenable." The FA proceeded with the hearing and found Terry guilty, fining him £220,000 and banning him for four matches.

He closed out his England career with a total of 78 caps, ranking eighteenth on the team's all-time appearances list.

13 September 2008 - He Really Wasn't That Type Of Player

On 13 September 2008, Chelsea beat Manchester City away, 1-3, despite losing captain John Terry to a red card in the second half.

The match marked the debut of City's new marquee signing Robinho, who had joined them from Real Madrid earlier that summer for a fee of €42.5 million. With all eyes on the Brazilian forward, he rose to the occasion by delivering the opening goal with a free kick from twenty yards out in just the 13th minute.

Unfortunately for the home supporters, the lead lasted only three minutes as a Chelsea corner kick led to an equalizer from Ricardo Carvalho, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net from close range. Frank Lampard then put the visitors ahead when he beat goalkeeper Jo Hart from the edge of the box in the 53rd minute, and Nicolas Anelka added a third Chelsea goal in the 69th minute.

Everything was going Chelsea's way until the 77th minute, when Terry received his red card. As City striker Jô raced past him with the ball, Terry brought him down with what appeared to be a deliberate arm around the waist. Although the foul happened near the center circle, referee Mark Halsey showed a red card, the first of Terry's career. Chelsea held on to their lead, winning 1-3.

A few days later, league officials overturned the red card, making Terry available for the next game against Manchester United, which they drew 1-1.

14 October 2006 - Terry Takes A Turn In Goal

On 14 October 2006, Chelsea needed three goalkeepers to get through their match against Reading, with captain John Terry pulling on the gloves for a bit.

Playing in a league game at Reading's Madjeski Stadium, Chelsea lost starting goalkeeper Petr Cech after just 20 seconds. Diving to make a save at the feet of Reading's Stephen Hunt, Cech took a blow to the head that fractured his skull. He left the pitch on a stretcher and was replaced by substitute keeper Carlo Cudicini.

Reading tested Cuducini, but it was Chelsea who took the lead after Reading defender Ivar Ingemarsson put the ball in his net off a Frank Lampard free kick in the 45th minute.

In the second half, both teams went down to 10 men as Chelsea's John Obi Mikel (in the 62nd minute) and Reading substitute André Bikey (in the 83rd) both received second yellow cards and were sent off. Then, shortly before the final whistle, Cuducini collided with Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko and lost consciousness. Having already used all three substitutes, manager José Mourinho sent John Terry into goal.

With only moments left, Terry had little to do to see out the 0-1 win.

27 July 2007 - Clearly, I Am In The Wrong Business

On 27 July 2007, Chelsea captain John Terry became the highest-paid player in Premier League history. For a while, anyway.

The Blues had just completed a three-year run in which they won the league twice (2005, 2006), then finished as runners-up to Manchester United (2007). They also won the FA Cup and the League Cup in 2007. Terry, who was also the England captain at the time, had two years remaining on his existing contract that paid him a reported £67,000 per week, well behind teammates Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko, who were both earning close to £120,000.

Terry's contract negotiations dragged out over a couple of months, but the defender maintained throughout that he had no intention of leaving the club. In July, Chelsea rewarded his loyalty with a new five-year deal that paid him close to £135,000 per week to surpass the record previously held by Ballack and Shevchenko. But Terry's status as the league's best-paid player did not last long. In August 2008, Chelsea signed midfielder Frank Lampard to a new deal worth £140,000 per week (which triggered an increase in Terry's pay to the same level). Even then, they both were well behind AC Milan midfielder Kaká and Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, both of earned close to £166,000 per week.

In 2010, Manchester United smashed the Premier League record by signing Wayne Rooney to a 5-year deal worth a reported £250,000 per week.

26 March 2008 - England's Newest Centurion

On 26 March 2008, 32-year old David Beckham reached his 100th cap when he started for England in a friendly against France.

It was milestone that Beckham looked unlikely to reach after England's elimination from the 2006 World Cup. Following their loss to Portugal in quarterfinals, Beckham's 94th international appearance, he resigned as England's captain. Although he expressed a desire to continue with the side in a subservient role, he was dropped altogether by new England boss Steve McClaren. A poor run of form changed McClaren's mind and he recalled Beckham to the national squad in May 2007.

Beckham performed well, but it was not enough to save McClaren's job - he was soon sacked in favor of Beckham's former Real Madrid boss, Fabio Capello. With Beckham sitting on 99 caps, he was not included in Capello's first match in charge, a friendly against Switzerland on 6 February 2008. The decision created speculation that Capello's English side had no place for Beckham, but Beckham was included for Capello's second match in charge - the friendly against France.

The match itself had mixed results for England. France controlled the pace and flow, creating far more scoring chances than the visitors. To their credit, though, the English defense was stout, repeatedly denying the French attack. The match's only goal came from the spot, as Nicolas Anelka drew a foul from his Chelsea teammate John Terry. Franck Ribéry buried the ensuing kick in the 32nd minute.

28 October 1998 - He's A One-Club Man

On 28 October 1998, 17-year old center back John Terry made his first appearance for Chelsea's senior team, coming on as a second-half substitute in a League Cup match against Aston Villa. Chelsea won 4-1.

Terry was born in London on 7 December 1980 and played for the Chelsea youth team from 1995 to 1998. He signed his professional contract with the Blues for the 1998-99 season, making 6 appearances.

In 2004, new manager Jose Mourinho handed the captain's armband to Terry, who rewarded the decision by leading Chelsea to back to back league titles in 2005 and 2006.

Apart from a brief loan spell with Nottingham Forest in the 1999-2000 season, Terry has spent his entire club career with Chelsea. Through the 2008-09 season, he had made 404 appearances for the London club. In addition to the league titles, he has won three FA Cups (2000, 2007, 2009), two League Cups (2005, 2007), and two Community Shields (2005, 2009).

Despite his successes, however, he is famous for the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final in which he slipped and missed the penalty that would have won the trophy.

21 May 2008 - Chelsea's Trophy Slipped Away

On 21 May 2008, Manchester United defeated Chelsea in the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow before a crowd of over 67,000. The match was the first all-English European Cup final as well as the first one held in Russia.

The two teams entered the Final having finished the English Premier League season in the top two spots. United won the league, only two points ahead of the Blues.

United winger Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with a header in the 26th minute. Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard then equalized in the 45th minute.

Chelsea carried the momentum into the second half, in which they continually pressured United. Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, and Didier Drogba all had good chances to put Chelsea ahead, but their shots just missed the goal. The teams ended the second half still tied at 1-1 and went into extra time, where Drogba received a red card in the 116th minute for hitting United defender Nemanja Vidić. The teams finished extra time still at 1-1 and advanced to penalty kicks.

United went first and, through nine kicks, the teams were tied at 4-4, with Chelsea keeper Petr Cech having made a diving save to keep Ronaldo's shot out. Chelsea defender and captain John Terry then stepped up to take what would have been the winning kick, but he slipped and sent his shot wide.

On the fourth kick of sudden death, United keeper Edwin Van der Sar saved Nicolas Anelka's kick, giving United a 6-5 win on penalties and the club's third European Cup trophy.