The FA stripped Chelsea centre back John Terry of the England national captaincy today not only because he faces trial for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, but also due to the fact that the judgment will not be passed until after Fabio Capello’s side have competed at the Euro 2012 finals.
Whilst it is important to remember that an indivisible right of English law is the defendant is innocent until proven guilty, this is not the first time Terry has made headlines for the wrong reason. Immaterial of the outcome of this latest controversy, he has had to stand down from wearing the armband once before after allegations that he had an affair with former Chelsea teammate Wayne Bridge’s girlfriend.
Despite this earlier disgrace, Terry regained the right to skipper his country, but has now lost that honour, not down to Capello but the hierarchy behind the Italian. Rio Ferdinand has already seemingly ruled himself out of taking over the duty after the way such matters have been handled in the past, so that leaves a tough decision to be made.
Here’s a look in my view at the leading contenders to captain England:
Steven Gerrard
- Age: 31
- Caps: 89
- Position: Central midfield
Often the de facto vice-captain of the Three Lions, the Liverpool man led his country at the 2010 World Cup when Ferdinand was injured and Terry had yet to receive the armband back. In terms of pluses to be attached to his nomination, Stevie G has been skipper at Anfield for almost a decade, lifting the Champions League and FA Cup trophies in that time.
Gerrard is just coming back from a lengthy layoff following a groin and ankle injuries, however, and won’t have played at international level for more than a year come the friendly with the Netherlands at the end of the month. Also on the down side is the conundrum that remains one of modern football’s great mysteries; can he and the next candidate play together?
Frank Lampard
- Age: 33
- Caps: 90
- Position: Central midfield
Number two under Terry both for club and country whilst Gerrard has been missing, Chelsea’s long-serving star also has a wealth of experience at the top. On Lampard’s CV are three Premier League titles and three FA Cups as well as an international career that has spanned across three decades. He is England’s first choice penalty taker.
And yet for all these claims that support his candidacy, Andre Villas Boas rarely starts Lampard in big matches these days much to the player’s frustration. He remains Chelsea’s top scorer this season despite being in and out the side and criticism that age could be catching up with him. The jury is also out on whether Lampard could line up alongside Gerrard.
Scott Parker
- Age: 31
- Caps: 10
- Position: Defensive midfield
Underrated for so long, Tottenham Hotspur’s tenacious and tough tackling general is the epitome of passion. Just ask any West Ham United fans that wax lyrical about the man that was voted Hammer of the Year for the last three seasons. Parker’s job may not be glamorous, but he does it very well. A defensive midfielder, Didier Deschamps no less, skippered France to World Cup and European Championship glory at the turn of the millennium, so it can be done.
Ten caps is not an indictment of Parker, but it does leave him lacking experience on the grand stages of football. His trophy cabinet is full of individual accolades, but has only the old First Division title in terms of honours that he has won when he was as a youngster at Charlton Athletic. I would argue though it is this lack of silverware that may give him the hunger to lead by example.
Gareth Barry
- Age: 30
- Caps: 51
- Position: Defensive midfield
This player is far from headline-grabbing, but someone has to do the dirty work. Capello’s tendency to deploy two deeper lying players means Barry could line up alongside Parker and Lampard/Gerrard in the middle of the park. Part of the Manchester City side that won the FA Cup last season, he is currently sitting at the Premier League summit under Roberto Mancini. Barry also captained Aston Villa during their period of successive top six finishes.
On the downside is one big game where he simply let his country down. As long as supporters live, few will forget the 4-1 humbling England took from Germany at the last World Cup. Barry was culpable on more than one occasion then and it has placed a question mark about his ability at the highest level. City’s less than convincing maiden Champions League campaign also adds ammunition to that.
Ashley Cole
- Age: 31
- Caps: 93
- Position: Left back
Chelsea’s flying wingback is the most decorated contender put forward here. No man has won the FA Cup (six times) more than Cole. He has also won three Premier League crowns and appeared in two Champions League finals both in losing efforts.
In comparison to the last left back who captained the Three Lions, Stuart Pearce, you might say Cole lacks the necessary leadership qualities. Yes, he has the experience on his side, but has proved to be no less controversial off the pitch than disgraced club teammate Terry. For me, Cole is an unlikely outsider.
Wayne Rooney
- Age: 26
- Caps: 73
- Position: Forward
An inspirational player who on his day is unstoppable, Rooney has four Premier League trophies, a Champions League winner's medal and two more final appearances to his credit. This remains possible rather than probable though because he is banned for the first two games at Euro 2012. The frustration this mercurical talent feels continues to make him his own worst enemy. Rooney needs to calm down and play with more discipline if he is to captain England one day in the future.
Joe Hart
- Age: 24
- Caps: 16
- Position: Goalkeeper
Conceding just twice in his international career thus far, the Three Lions number one is a player destined to start in Poland and the Ukraine barring injury. He was in between the sticks for Manchester City’s FA Cup triumph last May. Iker Casillas has skippered Spain to Euro 2008 and World Cup glory and historically the likes of Dino Zoff and Oliver Kahn have been successful leaders on the big stage. Hart’s lack of experience at the top counts against him though.
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