UEFA Europa League

160px
Founded	1971 (2009 in its current format)
Region	UEFA (Europe)
Number of teams	48 (group stage) +8 clubs join after Champions League group stage[1] 160 (total)
Current champions	Atlético Madrid (2nd title)
Most successful club	Juventus Internazionale Liverpool (3 titles)
Television broadcasters	List of broadcasters
Website	Official website
2011–12 UEFA Europa League

The UEFA Europa League /juːˈeɪfə jʊˈroʊpə ˈliːɡ/, previously called the UEFA Cup /juːˈeɪfə ˈkʌp/, is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League. Clubs qualify for the competition based on their performance in their national leagues and cup competitions.

Previously called the UEFA Cup, the competition has been known as the UEFA Europa League since the 2009–10 season,^[2][3] following a change in format. For UEFA footballing records purposes, the UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League are considered the same competition, with the change of name being simply a rebranding.^[4]

In 1999, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was abolished and merged with the UEFA Cup.^[5] For the 2004–05 competition a group stage was added prior to the knock out stage. The 2009 rebranding included a merge with the UEFA Intertoto Cup, producing an enlarged competition format, with an expanded group stage and changed qualifying criteria. The winner of the UEFA Europa League qualifies for the UEFA Super Cup.

The title has been won by 26 different clubs, 12 of which have won the title more than once. The most successful clubs in the competition are Juventus, Internazionale and Liverpool with three titles apiece.^[6]

History[link]

The UEFA Cup was preceded by the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, which was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition grew from 11 teams during the first cup (1955–58) to 64 teams by the last cup which was played in 1970–71. It had become so important on the European football scene that in the end it was taken over by UEFA and relaunched the following season as the UEFA Cup.

The UEFA Cup was first played in the 1971–72 season, with an all-English final of Wolverhampton Wanderers versus Tottenham Hotspur, with Spurs taking the first honours.

The competition was traditionally open to the runners-up of domestic leagues, but the competition was merged with UEFA's previous second-tier European competition, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, in 1999. Since then, the winners of domestic cup competitions have also entered the UEFA Cup. Also, clubs eliminated in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League and the third placed teams at the end of the group phase could go on to compete in the UEFA Cup. Also admitted to the competition are three Fair Play representatives and winners of some selected domestic League Cup competitions.

The winners keep the trophy for a year before returning it to UEFA. After its return, the club can keep a four-fifths scale replica of the original trophy.

Four teams have won the UEFA Cup as well as their domestic league and cup competitions in the same season, those being IFK Göteborg in 1982, Galatasaray in 2000, FC Porto in 2003 and 2011, and CSKA Moscow in 2005. This accomplishment is known as a treble that only Galatasaray completed with the European Super Cup. Additionally, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Mönchengladbach, IFK Göteborg (twice), AFC Ajax, Galatasaray, and Feyenoord are the only teams to have won the cup without suffering a single loss in their campaign. RCD Espanyol is the single runner-up without a defeat. IFK Göteborg played 25 consecutive matches in the UEFA Cup between 1980 and 1987 without a single loss, including their 1981–82 and 1986–87 winning campaigns.

From the 2009–10 season, the competition is known as the UEFA Europa League.^[2][3] At the same time, the UEFA Intertoto Cup, UEFA's third-tier competition, was discontinued and merged into the new Europa League.

Trophy[link]

The Europa League trophy

The UEFA Cup, also known as the Coupe UEFA, is the trophy awarded annually by UEFA to the football club that wins the UEFA Europa League. Before the 2009–10 season, both the competition and the trophy were known as 'the UEFA Cup'.

Before the competition was renamed the UEFA Europa League in the 2009–10 season, the UEFA regulations stated that a club could keep the original trophy upon their third consecutive win or fifth win overall.^[8] However under the new regulations the trophy remains in UEFA's keeping at all times. A full-size replica trophy is awarded to each winner of the competition. Also a club that wins three consecutive times or five times overall will receive a 'special mark of recognition'.^[9]

The trophy was designed and crafted by Bertoni for the 1972 UEFA Cup Final. It weighs 15 kg and is silver on a yellow marble plinth.^[10]

Anthem[link]

The Paris Opera under the direction of composer Yohann Zveig recorded the anthem of the UEFA Europa League in March–May 2009. This theme for the re-branded UEFA Cup competition was first officially unveiled at the Grimaldi Forum on 28 August 2009 before the 2009–10 season group stage draw.

The anthem is to be played before every Europa League game at a stadium hosting such an event and also before every television broadcast of a Europa League game as a musical element of the competition's opening sequence.

Zveig himself hopes that his anthem will achieve a similar success as the UEFA Champions League Anthem in terms of global recognition.^[11][12]

Format[link]

Qualification[link]

Qualification for the competition is based on UEFA coefficients, with better entrance rounds being offered to the more successful nations. Actually, each association has a standard number of three berths, excluding

• Nations ranked 7 to 9, which have four berths
• Nations ranked 52 and 53 (Malta and San Marino in the 2011–12 season), which have two berths
• Liechtenstein, which qualifies only the Cup Winners

Usually, places are awarded to teams who finish in various runners-up places in the top-flight leagues of Europe and the winners of the main cup competitions. A few countries have secondary cup competitions but the only countries which currently grant a UEFA Europa League place to their secondary cup winners are England and France.

If the previous UEFA Europa League title-holders are not eligible to take part in either of the current UEFA club competitions (UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League) by virtue of their domestic form, the UEFA Administration may, at the request of the association of the club concerned, admit this club to the current UEFA Europa League competition. Its participation will not be at the expense of the contingent of its association.

Qualification can be quite complicated if one team qualifies for European competition through two different routes. In all cases, if a club is eligible to enter the UEFA Champions League then the Champions League place takes precedence and the club does not enter the UEFA Europa League. The UEFA Europa League place is then granted to another club. If a team qualifies for European competition through both winning a cup and league placing, the "spare" UEFA Europa League place will go to either the cup runners-up or the highest placed league team which has not already qualified for European competition, depending on the rules of the national association.

Three more berths are given to federations that finish above a certain level in UEFA's Fair Play table. The top three federations automatically receive a Fair Play entry if their rating is at least 8.0. The berth goes to the highest-placed team in the Fair Play table of that country's top league that has not already qualified for Europe.

More recently, clubs that are knocked out of the qualifying round and the group stage of the Champions League can also join the UEFA Europa League, at different stages (see below).

Background[link]

UEFA coefficients were introduced in 1980 and, until 1999, they gave a greater number of berths in UEFA Cup to the more successful nations. Three nations had four places, five nations had three places, thirteen nations had two places, and eleven nations only one place. Since 1999, a similar system is used for UEFA Champions League. Before 1980, the entrance criteria of last Fairs Cup were used.

Historical formats[link]

The competition was traditionally a pure knockout tournament. All ties were two-legged, including the final. Starting with the 1997–98 season, the final became a one-off match, but all other ties remained two-legged.

Before the 2004–05 season, the tournament consisted of one qualifying round, followed by a series of knockout rounds. The 16 losers in the third qualifying round of the Champions League entered at the first round proper; later in the tournament, the survivors would be joined by third-place finishers in the group phase of the Champions League.

From the 2004–05 season competition started with two knockout qualifying rounds held in July and August. Participants from associations ranked 18 and lower entered the first qualifying round with those from associations ranked 9–18 joining them in the second qualifying round. In addition, three places in the first qualifying round were reserved for the UEFA Fair Play ranking winners, and eleven places in the second qualifying round for the UEFA Intertoto Cup winners.

Winners of the qualifying rounds then joined teams from the associations ranked 1–13 in the first round proper. In addition, losers in the third qualifying round of the Champions League also joined the competition at this point along with the current title-holders (unless they had qualified for the UEFA Champions League via their national league), for a total of 80 teams in the first round.

After the first knockout round, the 40 survivors entered a group phase, with the clubs being drawn into eight groups of five each. Unlike the Champions League group phase, the UEFA Cup group phase was played in a single round-robin format, with each club playing two home and two away games. The top three teams in each of the eight groups qualified for the main knockout round along with the eight third-placed teams in the Champions League group phase. From then on a series of two-legged knockout ties were played before a single-legged final, traditionally held on the Wednesday in May immediately preceding the Champions League final.

Current format[link]

From the 2009–10 season, the competition has been rebranded as the UEFA Europa League in a bid to increase the competition's profile.^[2] As well as changing the competition's name, an extra 16 teams now qualify for the main stages of the competition, with the group stage now consisting of 12 groups of four teams (in a double round robin), with the top two placed teams in each group progressing. The competition then progresses in much the same way as the previous format, with 4 rounds of two-legged knockout rounds and a one-off final held at a neutral ground meeting UEFA's Category Four stadium criteria.The final is still played on a Wednesday, but now 10 days prior to the CL final which has been moved from the Wednesday after the EL final to a Saturday, normally 10 days after the EL final.

Qualification has also changed significantly. Associations ranked 7–9 in the UEFA coefficients will send the Cup winner and three other teams to the UEFA Europa League qualification, all other nations send a Cup winner and two other teams, except Liechtenstein, Andorra and San Marino, who will only send a Cup winner. Usually, the other teams will be the next highest ranked clubs in each domestic league after those qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, however France and England will continue to use one spot for their League Cup winner. Additionally, three places in the first of four qualifying rounds are still reserved for Fair Play winners. For the inaugural 2009–10 season these places went to Rosenborg of Norway, Randers of Denmark and Motherwell of Scotland. With the scrapping of the Intertoto Cup there will no longer be spaces reserved in the qualifying rounds for teams qualifying through that route. Generally, the higher an association is ranked in the UEFA coefficients, the later its clubs start in the qualification, however every team except the title holder has to play at least one qualification round.

Apart from the teams mentioned, an additional 15 losing teams from the Champions League qualification round three will enter in the fourth and last UEFA Europa League qualification round, formerly known as the first round, and the 10 losers of the Champions League qualification round 4 will directly enter the UEFA Europa League group stage. The 12 winners and the 12 runners-up in the group stage will advance to the first knock out round, together with eight 3rd placed teams from the Champions League group stage. The losing finalist for the domestic cup competition will still be entitled to be entered for the UEFA Europa League should the domestic cup winners qualify for the UEFA Champions League.^[13]

Distribution[link]

Referees[link]

The Europa League have implemented the extra officials rule since September 2009. Under the rule, there will be a total of six officials: the main referee, two assistant referees, fourth official of the sideline, and two extra assistants (one alongside each goal).

Prize money[link]

Similarly to the UEFA Champions League, the prize money received by the clubs is divided into fixed payments based on participation and results, and variable amounts that depend of the value of their TV market.^[15]

A group stage participation in the Europa League nets €640,000, with a €60,000 bonus per group match played. A victory in the group pays €140,000 and a draw €70,000. Reaching the knock-out matches triggers additional bonuses: €200,000 for the round of 32, €300,000 for the round of 16, €400,000 for the quarterfinals and €700,000 for the semifinals. The losing finalists receive €2 million and the champions get €3 million.^[16] In comparison, any team that reaches the UEFA Champions League group stage will be paid €3.9 million.^[17]

According to UEFA the fixed payments for the 2010/2011 UEFA Europa League season were as follows:^[18]

• 1st qualifying round: €90,000
• 2nd qualifying round: €90,000
• 3rd qualifying round: €90,000
• Playoffs: €90,000
• Group stage: €640,000
• For each match in group stage: €60,000
• Group match victory: €140,000
• Group match draw: €70,000
• Round of 32: €200,000
• Round of 16: €300,000
• Quarter-finals: €400,000
• Semi-finals: €700,000
• Losing Finalist: €2,000,000
• Winning the Final: €3,000,000

Sponsorship[link]

The UEFA Europa League is sponsored by a single multinational company; the current tournament sponsor is SEAT.

Adidas is a secondary sponsor and supplies the official match ball, as it does for all other UEFA competitions. Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer is also a secondary sponsor as the official Europa League video game.

Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising, even if such sponsors conflict with those of the Europa League. However, only one sponsorship is permitted per jersey (plus that of the manufacturer), and if clubs play a match in a country where the relevant sponsorship category is restricted (such as the case of France, alcohol and betting), then they must remove that logo from their jerseys.

Media coverage[link]

The competition attracts an extensive television audience, not just in Europe, but throughout the world.

Records and statistics[link]

The UEFA Cup finals were played over two legs until 1997. The first final was played on 3 May 1972 in Wolverhampton and 17 May 1972 in London. The first leg between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur was won 2–1 by the away side. The second leg finished as a 1–1 draw, meaning that Tottenham Hotspur became the first UEFA Cup winners.

The one-match finals in pre-selected venues were introduced in 1998. A venue must meet or exceed UEFA Category three standards to host UEFA Cup finals. On two occasions, the final was played at a finalist's home ground: Feyenoord defeated Borussia Dortmund at De Kuip, Rotterdam in 2002, and Sporting CP lost to CSKA Moscow at their own José Alvalade Stadium, Lisbon in 2005.

The winner of the last UEFA Cup final (prior to the competition being rebranded the UEFA Europa League) was Shakhtar Donetsk on 20 May 2009. The Ukrainian team beat Werder Bremen of Germany 2–1 at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey.

The first ever winner of the rebranded Europa League was Atlético Madrid, beating Premier League side Fulham 2–1 after extra time.

Winners[link]

Club	Winners	Runners-up	Years won	Years runners-up
Juventus	3	1	1977, 1990, 1993	1995
Internazionale	3	1	1991, 1994, 1998	1997
Liverpool	3	0	1973, 1976, 2001
Borussia Mönchengladbach	2	2	1975, 1979	1973, 1980
Tottenham Hotspur	2	1	1972, 1984	1974
Feyenoord	2	0	1974, 2002
IFK Göteborg	2	0	1982, 1987
Real Madrid	2	0	1985, 1986
Parma	2	0	1995, 1999
Porto	2	0	2003, 2011
Sevilla	2	0	2006, 2007
Atlético Madrid	2	0	2010, 2012
Anderlecht	1	1	1983	1984
PSV Eindhoven	1	0	1978
Eintracht Frankfurt	1	0	1980
Ipswich Town	1	0	1981
Bayer Leverkusen	1	0	1988
Napoli	1	0	1989
Ajax	1	0	1992
Bayern Munich	1	0	1996
Schalke 04	1	0	1997
Galatasaray	1	0	2000
Valencia	1	0	2004
CSKA Moscow	1	0	2005
Zenit St. Petersburg	1	0	2008
Shakhtar Donetsk	1	0	2009

See also[link]

• List of UEFA Cup and Europa League winning managers
• UEFA Champions League

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League

• Official website

v t e International club football FIFA · Club World Cup (stats) · Intercontinental Cup (stats · defunct) · Confederation and inter-confederation competition winners · Teams Asia AFC – Champions League AFC Cup President's Cup Top-division clubs Africa CAF – Champions League Confederation Cup Super Cup Top-division clubs North America, Central America and the Caribbean CONCACAF – Champions League Top-division clubs South America CONMEBOL – Copa Libertadores Copa Sudamericana Recopa Sudamericana Top-division clubs Oceania OFC – Champions League Top-division clubs Europe UEFA – Champions League Europa League Super Cup Top-division clubs See also International club women's football.

Artur Guilherme Moraes Gusmão or simply Artur (born 25 January 1981), is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He currently plays for Benfica. After a good display in the first half of the 2011-2012 season, he has been nicknamed by Benfica fans Rei Artur (King Arthur).

Club career[link]

Brasil[link]

Artur started his career at Paulista. In 2003 he was loaned to Cruzeiro, who signed him in definitive in 2004. He was on loan to Coritiba for the 2006 and 2007 season.^[1] He was the first choice keeper in 2006 season, ahead Kleber and Rodrigo. But in 2007 season Édson Bastos became the first choice.

Italy[link]

Artur signed a two year contact with Siena on 4 January 2008^[2] after his contract with Cruzeiro had expired. On 30 January, he was loaned to Cesena.

On 25 June 2008, Artur completed a transfer to Roma from Siena along with his team mate Simone Loria in an exchange deal which saw Roma goalkeeper Gianluca Curci move to Siena in a co-ownership deal and Roma midfielder Ahmed Barusso move on loan to the Tuscan based club. Daniele Galloppa, owned by both Roma & Siena, also became a Siena player to all effects as part of the deal.^[3] He made his unofficial debut in the first pre-season friendly of Roma, when they suffered a 3–1 defeat to Steaua Bucharest.^[4]

In April 2009, he became first choice after the injury of Doni, ahead Júlio Sérgio and Pietro Pipolo. In 2009–10 season, he was dropped, as the coach preferred Júlio Sérgio as first choice, Bogdan Lobonţ and Doni as backup.

Portugal[link]

In 2010 he started playing in Portugal

Braga[link]

In summer 2010 he left for Braga, as the club lost Eduardo and Paweł Kieszek. He was the backup of Mário Felgueiras as the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round as new signing Quim injured. He then became Felipe's understudy ahead Marcos. After Felipe returned to Brazil in December, he became the first choice.

Benfica[link]

On 16 May 2011, Artur signed a four-year deal with Benfica.^[5]

Honours[link]

• Brazilian League: 2003
• Brazilian Cup: 2003
• Minas Gerais State Championship: 2003, 2004
• Brazilian League Second Division: 2007
• Brazilian League Third Division: 2001
• Taça da Liga: 2011-12

References[link]

External links[link]

• (Portuguese) CBF
• (Portuguese) placar
• (Portuguese) artur-moraes.net
• http://futpedia.globo.com/jogadores/artur1
• Profile at AIC.Football.it (Italian)

John Terry

Personal information
Full name	John George Terry
Date of birth	(1980-12-07) 7 December 1980 (age 31)
Place of birth	Barking, London, England
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in)[1][2]
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	Chelsea
Number	26
Youth career
	Senrab
1991–1995	West Ham United
1995–1998	Chelsea
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1998–	Chelsea	373	(28)
2000	→ Nottingham Forest (loan)	6	(0)
National team‡
2000–2002	England U21	9	(1)
2003–	England	72	(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:09, 18 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13:27, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

John George Terry (born 7 December 1980) is an English professional footballer. Terry plays in a centre back position and is the captain of Chelsea in the Premier League. He was also captain of the England national football team, holding the post from August 2006 to February 2010, and from March 2011 to February 2012.

Terry was named UEFA Club Defender of the Year in 2005, 2008 and 2009.^[3] PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2005,^[4] and was included in the FIFPro World XI for four consecutive seasons, from 2005 to 2008.^[5][6][7][8] He was also named in the all-star squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the only English player to make the team.^[9] He wears the number 26 shirt for Chelsea.

Terry is Chelsea's most successful captain, having led them to three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups since 2004. He is one of five players to have made over 500 appearances for Chelsea and is also the club's all-time highest scoring defender.^[10] In 2007, he became the first captain to lift the FA Cup at the new Wembley Stadium in Chelsea's 1–0 win over Manchester United, and also the first player to score an international goal there, scoring a header in England's 1–1 draw with Brazil.^[11]

Club career[link]

Early career[link]

Terry was born in Barking, east London, and attended Eastbury Comprehensive School. Terry played initially for Senrab, a side that featured many future stars of the English game, including current Premier League players Sol Campbell, Jermain Defoe, Bobby Zamora, Ledley King and Jlloyd Samuel.^[12] As a boy he initially was part of West Ham United's youth system, joining them as a midfielder in 1991.^[13] He moved to Chelsea at 14, playing for the club's youth and reserve teams. It was due to a shortage of central defenders that he was moved to centre-back, the position he plays today.

Early time with Chelsea[link]

Terry made his Chelsea debut on 28 October 1998 as a late substitute in a League Cup tie with Aston Villa; his first start came later that season in an FA Cup third round match, a 2–0 win over Oldham Athletic. He spent a brief period on loan with Nottingham Forest in 2000 to build up his first team experience and was subject to interest from both David Platt and Huddersfield Town manager Steve Bruce.^{[14][15][16][17]}

In 2002 Terry was involved in an incident at a West London nightclub with Chelsea team mate Jody Morris and Wimbledon's Des Byrne. He was charged with assault and affray, but later cleared.^[18] During the affair, he was given a temporary ban from the England national side by the FA.^[19] Previously, along with Chelsea team-mates Frank Lampard, Jody Morris, Eiður Guðjohnsen and former team-mate Frank Sinclair, in September 2001 Terry was fined two weeks wages by Chelsea after drunkenly harassing grieving American tourists in the immediate aftermath of the 11 September attacks.^[20][21] During his early days at Chelsea, Terry shared a flat with Andrew Crofts.^[22]

First-team regular[link]

Terry began to establish himself in the Chelsea first team from the 2000–01 season, making 23 starts, and was voted the club's player of the year.^[23] He continued his progress during 2001–02, becoming a regular in the defence alongside club captain and French international Marcel Desailly. On 5 December 2001 he captained Chelsea for the first time, in a League match against Charlton Athletic. Chelsea reached the FA Cup final, following wins against London rivals West Ham and Tottenham in the fourth and six rounds respectively, and Fulham in the semi-final – where Terry scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory. A virus denied Terry a place in the starting line-up for the final, although he came on as a second-half substitute as Chelsea lost 2–0 to Arsenal. In season 2003–04, his performances led to him being handed the captain's armband by manager Claudio Ranieri, when Desailly was out of the side. He played well in the absence of the French international, forming a strong defensive partnership with William Gallas.

Back-to-back Premierships as captain[link]

John Terry celebrating after the win of the 2006 Premier league trophy

Following Desailly's retirement, new Chelsea manager José Mourinho chose Terry as his club captain, a choice which was vindicated throughout the 2004–05 season as Chelsea won the Premier League title in record-breaking fashion with the best defensive record in Football League history with the most clean sheets and the most points accrued. He was voted Player of the Year by his fellow professionals in England^[4] and scored eight goals, including a late winner against Barcelona, in the UEFA Champions League. He was voted the best defender in the Champions League for the season.^[24] In September 2005 he was selected as a member of the World XI at the FIFPro awards. The team was chosen by a vote of professional footballers based in 40 countries.^[5] Chelsea defended their Premier League title in 2005–06, earning 91 points, and confirming the title with a 3–0 victory against Manchester United.

Recent seasons[link]

Terry playing for Chelsea in 2007.

In a match on 14 October 2006 against Reading, Terry had to take over in goal for Chelsea after both of Chelsea's usual keepers, Petr Čech and Carlo Cudicini were injured in the game. He wore the number 40 shirt belonging to third-choice goalkeeper Henrique Hilário. However, as the game continued for only a little over a minute, Terry did not have a single save to make – in fact, his goalkeeping experience was limited to taking a free-kick from inside the penalty area. Chelsea managed to hang on to a one-goal lead and win the game and Terry kept a clean sheet. On 5 November 2006, playing against Tottenham Hotspur, Terry was sent off for the first time in his Chelsea career. He received two yellow cards as Chelsea lost at White Hart Lane for the first time since 1987. Terry was charged with misconduct by the F.A. for questioning the integrity of match referee Graham Poll after the game. On 10 January 2007, John Terry was ordered to pay £10,000 for the inappropriate conduct after he changed his mind and pleaded guilty to the FA.

John Terry warming up for a match against Sunderland in November 2008.

In the 2006–2007 season Terry missed matches for Chelsea due to a recurring back problem. After the tie to Reading on 26 December 2006, José Mourinho stated that his captain might require surgery to fix the problem. In the games that he had missed, Chelsea had conceded six goals. On 28 December Chelsea released a press statement saying Terry had had back surgery: "The operation to remove a sequestrated lumbar intervertebral disc was successful."^[25] Although he was expected to return at the game against Wigan Athletic, Terry was missing once again, due to the recurring back problem. He made his return against Charlton Athletic on 3 February 2007. He played his first 90 minutes of football for nearly three months against Middlesbrough and received much applause from the Chelsea faithful. Playing in the UEFA Champions league last-sixteen away against Porto, he suffered another injury, this time to his ankle, and was set to miss the 2007 League Cup Final against Arsenal, but managed to recover from the injury within days and played in the final. During the second half of the match, at an attacking corner, he threw himself at the ball with a diving header; Arsenal's Abou Diaby, in an attempt to clear the ball, kicked Terry in the face. Terry was unconscious for several minutes, at which point he nearly swallowed his tongue. He was carried off the field on a stretcher and immediately transferred to the University Hospital of Wales, where he was successfully treated. Terry discharged himself the same day and returned to the Millennium Stadium to celebrate his team's 2–1 win. The only recollection he had of the second half is walking out onto the pitch and he did not remember the 10 minutes he played prior to his injury.^[26] Following the incident, Terry thanked the Arsenal physiologist Gary Lewin for saving his life.^[27] Lewin was the first medic that rushed over to assist him after his tongue had blocked his airways. After spending two weeks on the sidelines, he made his return to the Chelsea team against Blackburn in March. He went on to lead Chelsea to the semi-finals of the Champions League, the third time in four years that Chelsea had made it to the final four of the competition. In May 2007, Terry captained Chelsea to the FA Cup, in the first final at the new Wembley Stadium.

John Terry with Frank Lampard celebrating their success

Despite failing to agree terms to a new contract immediately following the 2006–2007 season, Terry stated on several occasions that he had no intention of leaving Chelsea. In late July he signed a new five-year contract^[28] with a base salary of between £131,000^[29] and £135,000^[30] per week, making him the highest-paid player in the Premier League at the time.^[30] Frank Lampard's contract with Chelsea, signed in August 2008, surpassed Terry's with Lampard earning £151,000 a week to become the highest-paid player in the Premier League.^[31] On 16 December 2007 whilst playing against Arsenal, while going to clear a ball Terry's foot was stepped on by Emmanuel Eboué and Terry had suffered 3 broken bones in his foot. He was expected to be out for at least three months but made a speedy recovery and managed to captain Chelsea to the 2008 League Cup final against Tottenham, which Chelsea lost 2–1. On 11 May 2008 whilst playing in the last league game of the season against Bolton, he collided with goalkeeper, Petr Čech, and suffered a partially dislocated elbow which was put back in while in the ambulance on the way to hospital. This injury did not prevent him playing in the Champions League final against Manchester United. The match went to penalties, and Terry missed a penalty which would have won Chelsea the match (and the Champions League). His standing leg slipped as he took his kick, and the ball missed the goal. Chelsea lost the shootout 6–5, which Terry reacted to by breaking down in tears. On 28 August 2008, Terry was awarded the Defender of The Year award from UEFA at the UEFA Champions League Group Stage Draw in Monaco, together with Frank Lampard and Petr Čech who received the award on their respective positions. On 13 September 2008, Terry received the first straight red card of his career against Manchester City for rugby-tackling Jô. However, this was later rescinded on appeal.^[32] Despite being a defender, he occasionally scores important goals for Chelsea, such as in the Champions League Group A home game against A.S. Roma in the 2008–2009 season.^[33] However, Chelsea went on to lose the away leg 3–1.^[34]

Along with Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Petr Čech, Terry is regarded as a part of the spine of the Chelsea team. He has won seven trophies as Chelsea captain (one more than Dennis Wise)^[35] Being an English player who came through the club's youth system, he is especially popular with Chelsea fans.^[36]

In July 2009, Manchester City made a third bid for Terry, but Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has insisted Terry will remain at Chelsea.^[37] Before the start of the season, Terry was again awarded with UEFA Defender of the Year, his 3rd time winning the award. John Terry made his debut for the new season against Premier League side Hull City, a match Chelsea won. On 8 November 2009, Terry scored the decisive goal in Chelsea's match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge to preserve their perfect home record for the season.

On 9 May 2010, Terry captained Chelsea as they won their fourth League title after an 8–0 win against Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge.^[38] A week later on 15 May 2010, Terry captained Chelsea as he won his fourth FA Cup medal, defeating Portsmouth in the final by 1–0 at Wembley.^[39]

John Terry celebrating the Champions League title

On 31 December 2011, in a home match against Aston Villa, Terry captained the Chelsea side for the 400th time of his career, a record for the club.^[40]

Terry was the world's third best passer in 2011 for players with over 1000 passes, with a 91.6% pass accuracy rate. Only Barcelona player Xavi (93.0%) and Swansea City player Leon Britton (93.3%) are better.^[41]

On 24 April 2012, Terry was sent off for violent conduct after driving a knee into Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez in an off-the-ball incident in the UEFA Champions League semi-final at Camp Nou. Chelsea's 3–2 aggregate victory over the holders qualified them for the final against Bayern München, for which Terry will be suspended. Terry later apologised for letting his team-mates and Chelsea fans down.^[42] Terry scored his sixth league goal of the season, seventh in all competitions, in the final game of the season, a 2–1 victory over relegated Blackburn.^[43] The goal meant that it was Terry's most prolific season and he told the Chelsea website "I am delighted with seven... It's always good to end a league season with a win."^[44]

Even though Terry was suspended for the Champions League final along with teammates Ramires, Branislav Ivanovic and Raul Meireles,^[45] he took part in celebrations at the final whistle, as Chelsea triumphed 4-3 on penalty kicks with striker Didier Drogba netting the decisive penalty.^[46]

International career[link]

Terry (third from right) organising England's defence in a friendly match against Spain in 2009.

Terry made his England debut in June 2003 against Serbia and Montenegro, and started his first game for England on 20 August 2003 at Portman Road, Ipswich, in a friendly against Croatia. England won the game 3–1. His main central defensive partner has been Rio Ferdinand. He played for his country at Euro 2004, and England Manager Sven-Göran Eriksson stated that Terry was the first-choice centre back, ahead of Sol Campbell.^{[citation needed]}

In a FIFA World Cup Qualifying match against Poland, Terry had the honour of wearing England's captain armband, replacing Michael Owen as captain after the latter was subbed.

He has cemented his place in the England squad by being selected for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In a warm-up match for that tournament against Hungary on 30 May 2006, Terry scored his first goal for England, the team's second in a 3–1 victory. Despite an injury scare in a friendly against Jamaica, he recovered to play in England's opening fixture against Paraguay, a 1–0 victory.

In the next match against Trinidad and Tobago, Carlos Edwards beat England's Paul Robinson to a cross and as Stern John bundled a header towards the goal, Terry cleared the ball off the line with an overhead kick. In the quarter-finals match against Portugal, Terry played the entire match, but England lost on penalties and he was left in tears with his fellow players. Six days later, he was the only English player to be named in the tournament's all-star squad.^[9]

Terry for England vs. Japan in 2010.

On 10 August 2006, Steve McClaren named John Terry as the England captain, succeeding David Beckham. McClaren said, "Choosing a captain is one of the most important decisions a coach has to make. I'm certain I've got the right man in John Terry. I'm convinced he will prove to be one of the best captains England has ever had."^[47] Terry scored a goal on his debut as the England captain, in a friendly international against Greece. This was the first goal of the match and, as such, the first goal during McClaren's reign as manager. When celebrating he kissed his new captain's armband. However, with Terry as captain, England did not qualify for Euro 2008 – their first absence from a tournament finals since the 1994 World Cup. Midway through the qualification campaign, Terry had accepted that he would "bear full responsibility" should England fail to qualify.^[48]

On 1 June 2007, Terry became the first player in the senior England team to score an international goal at the new Wembley Stadium when he scored England's goal in a 1–1 draw with Brazil. He scored from a header in the box after a free kick cross by David Beckham. Almost a year later, he scored a similar headed goal once again from a freekick cross by David Beckham to put England 1–0 up against the USA on 28 May 2008.

Terry was confirmed as the England captain in August, and captained England in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. During his first match after being reinstated as the permanent England captain he was given a torrid time by Milan Baroš and was turned far too easily when Baros scored the first goal for the Czech Republic. The match ended 2–2 with Joe Cole scoring a fortunate equaliser for England in the 92nd minute of the game. He scored his first competitive England goal against Ukraine in the qualifiers for the World Cup, grabbing a late winner after earlier giving away a free kick which saw Andriy Shevchenko equalise for Ukraine.

On 5 February 2010, following allegations regarding Terry's private life, England manager Fabio Capello announced that Terry was removed as the captain of the England team.^[49] He was replaced by fellow defender Rio Ferdinand.^[50]

At the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals, England started with two draws against the USA and Algeria which received heavy criticism from the English media.^[51]

Two days after the Algeria game in a media interview, Terry hinted at dissatisfaction with Capello's team selection and stated that the players were bored with little to do in the evenings at their training base; he also said that a clear-the-air team meeting would take place that evening.^[52] The next day Capello responded by saying that Terry had made "a very big mistake" in challenging his authority to the media.^[53]

On 19 March 2011, Capello reinstated Terry as England captain following a long term injury to previous captain Rio Ferdinand.^[54] On 3 February 2012, with Terry due to stand trial due to allegations that Terry had racially abused Anton Ferdinand of Queens Park Rangers, the FA stripped John Terry of the England captaincy for the second time.^[55]

International goals[link]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	30 May 2006	Manchester, England	Hungary	2–0	3–1	Friendly match
2	16 August 2006	Manchester, England	Greece	1–0	4–0	Friendly match
3	1 June 2007	London, England	Brazil	1–0	1–1	Friendly match
4	28 May 2008	London, England	United States	1–0	2–0	Friendly match
5	19 November 2008	Berlin, Germany	Germany	2–1	2–1	Friendly match
6	1 April 2009	London, England	Ukraine	2–1	2–1	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification