John Terry has been named as the new captain of the England football team.

The 25-year-old was confirmed as David Beckham's successor on Thursday, with Steven Gerrard made vice-captain by new England coach Steve McClaren.

 

Terry begins his reign as captain in McClaren's first match in charge, a friendly against Greece on 16 August.

 

McClaren told the Football Association's website: "I'm convinced he will prove to be one of the best captains England has ever had."

 

McClaren said that the respect that Chelsea skipper Terry commanded among his fellow professionals was behind his decision.

 

"John has all the attributes an international captain needs - leadership, authority, courage, ability, tactical awareness and a total refusal to accept second-best," he said.

 

"He has been an inspiration for Chelsea and is at his best in adversity.

 

"Over the five years I've been involved with the England coaching set-up I've seen first hand the respect that John has among his fellow players.

 

"There are a number of strong leaders in the squad and he will not lack support on and off the pitch."

 

Terry said he was delighted with the appointment.

 

"It is the ultimate honour to be the captain of your country and I am very proud to be given this great opportunity," he said.

 

"It is an incredible challenge and one I am looking forward to very much."

 

Steven Gerrard offered his congratulations to his Chelsea counterpart.

 

"I would like to congratulate John on being appointed England captain. I'm sure he'll do a great job," he said.

 

"He's a tremendous leader for Chelsea and has all the qualities required to do the role.

 

"I'm also pleased to have been appointed vice-captain by Steve McClaren today. I am grateful that Steve took the time to call me and inform me of his decision.

 

"There are a number of captains in the England squad and I know we will all be giving 100% support to Steve and John."

 

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said he was always confident Terry would be named captain.

 

"I knew Steve was inside and from the inside he could not think twice but to choose JT as England captain," he said.

 

"JT deserves it. England deserves a captain like him. He loves to work, loves to win, loves to make people happy and confident."

 

Former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri, who made Terry club captain, agreed England had made the right choice.

 

"I made him captain because he is a leader who always thinks of his team-mates and the squad," Ranieri told BBC Radio Five Live.

 

"He was respected by his team-mates because he's very correct and very serious and he's a great player and a great man.

 

"When he was young he made little mistakes [off the pitch], but now he's a man and Steve McClaren has made the best decision."

 

Terry has won 29 caps since making his debut against Serbia and Montenegro on 3 June 2003.

 

Beckham stepped down as England captain one day after his team were knocked out of the World Cup quarter-finals by Portugal.

 

The midfielder had been skipper for six years after being handed the armband by stand-in coach Peter Taylor in 2000.

 

Central defender Terry was the bookmakers' odds-on favourite to follow Beckham, although many tipped Gerrard to take the role.

 

A poll commissioned by the BBC Sport website and Radio Five Live had revealed that England fans were divided over who should be the new national captain.

 

Terry gained 51% of the votes, Gerrard polled 46% and Gary Neville got 2%.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4780745.stm

don't agree with that one. Modern football captains are more successful from midfield or attack, and become better players because of it. Another defender becomes captain, indicative of the way English football has been dominated by 'defend at all costs'. Maclarens first mistake.

 

Gerrard should have been given the armband, Rooney vice-captain.

Here Here.... its baist as he is a scouser .... The CRE should be called in

Am very much disappointed with the choice, Steven Gerrard would have been a better choice, then again, It maybe because I am a liverpool fan!!!

Am very much disappointed with the choice' date=' Steven Gerrard would have been a better choice, then again, It maybe because I am a liverpool fan!!![/quote']

 

He didn't choose Gerrard because none of the other players would have been able to understand him!!:P

Gerrard would have been the better choice in my opinion.

Gerrard would have been the better choice in my opinion.

 

You're biased because you're in Scouseland!!:P

ha!! devvod for stevie g, but we dont like him!! ha!! go jonny boy!!!! and england... even though we are crap..

I'm glad Gerrard didn't get it. Perhaps 'Stevie G' can concentrate on having at least one good game for England now.

I'm glad Gerrard didn't get it. Perhaps 'Stevie G' can concentrate on having at least one good game for England now.

 

And Becks can concentrate on being a celebrity!:rolleyes:

Yep, when was the last time Becks was handy?

ha!! devvod for stevie g' date=' but we dont like him!![/quote']

 

Who is 'we'?

Yep' date=' when was the last time Becks was handy?[/quote']

 

When he scored against Greece about three years ago??

Who is 'we'?

 

Presumably he's either a Man U or Everton fan!:rolleyes:

Stevie G would've been better I think. But its Mclaren's choice not mine so..

Presumably he's either a Man U or Everton fan!:rolleyes:

 

haha!! im an everton fan...and im a girl...:rolleyes: :) so we stands for everton...

When he scored against Greece about three years ago??

 

He scored against Greece way back in 2002, since then 2 world cups and one euro cup has passed

haha!! im an everton fan...and im a girl...:rolleyes: :) so we stands for everton...

 

Then I was right (except for the gender part)!!:P

yes you were...lol!

Terry is a different player when it comes to being captain. I think just cause Gerrard doesn't hold the armband doesn't mean he won't be shouting around or being influential.

 

Beckham getting dropped is ridiculous. To say that talent-wise Beckham isn't in the top 25 English players is a very stupid thought. When McClaren was asked if Beckham is or is not the best right sided midfielder in the country, you could tell he knew the answer was yes. Lennon in 2 years or 1 year will hopefully be at a standard where he can start on the right, but right now he should be a backup for Becks.

 

This "new era" is a poor excuse. If it was the case Gary Neville wouldn't be in the squad. Beckham and Neville will both be 33 when the next Euro championships come around. If McClaren is building from youth, why is Neville there? Beckham was a good captain and better for England than Neville has been.

 

To say that some of the midfielders in the squad are players you would rather see on the team than Beckham is ridiculous. Even if Beckham was coming off the bench, that'd be a damn sight better than seeing Phil Neville coming off the bench, or Jermaine Jenas, or Keiron Richardson. None of these 3 players have the right to be in that England squad over a player like Beckham.

 

If McClaren has a real reason for axing Beckham, it's a non-footballing one.

^I completely disagree, as do all the pundits and football writers I've heard. Beckham hasn't been at his best for at least three years. He's been disappointing in the last three major tournaments (for various reasons).

I wouldn't disagree with him maybe being a sub from now on, but that's about it.

We need wide players with pace (like Lennon) who can go past people. Beckham hasn't been able to do that for some time, and he was never the fastest of players anyway.

Sven was far too loyal to him, and now - thankfully - they've both been dispensed with!;)

Bent & Defoe are now in the squad instead of Walcott, too, as they should have been for the World Cup.

The new manager should have been in place before the World Cup, too, and then we might have had a decent chance of actually winning it.