By Jason Burt
It was difficult not to give a little cheer as Fabio Capello announced, in effect, that John Terry had better buck up his ideas, and more directly his behaviour, if he has any pretensions of resuming the role of England captain.
For too long Terry has come to symbolise some of the baser instincts of the English football team and the Premier League. He’s undoubtedly earnest and has been an extremely popular figure in the Chelsea – and England – dressing rooms but his credentials as a captain have been in doubt for some time and not just for his questionable off-field acts.
As a player he’s been highly effective but always indebted to someone quicker and more skilful – whether William Gallas, Ricardo Carlvaho or Rio Ferdinand – playing alongside him. As a captain he’s often lapsed into immature behaviour and as a role model – something some footballers say is unfairly expected of them – he’s failed.
The way he reacted to Ashley Cole’s petulance at White Hart Lane last week – and then ridiculously tried to claim he had been some kind of peace-maker in the face of provocation – was just the latest in a wearisome line of episodes. But, even more so, the photograph of his £150,000 Bentley car (the price of which is little more than a week’s wages for him) parked in a disabled bay while he had lunch, smacked of the kind of arrogance and disregard that needs to be dealt with.
That arrogance appears to influence much of the way footballers behave. Terry may be being picked on by Capello but as a now former captain of his country, and one who has pretensions to take that job again, he was a totally justified target. After all it’s not just the honour of the armband but the money that can be made from wearing it that is attractive.
Terry may well be given the job again. There was a cleverness in Capello selecting Rio Ferdinand to captain his side tonight against France. "The past is the past," the Italian said of Ferdinand’s own catalogue of misdemeanours which is even longer and more grave than Terry’s. The message was clear: it’s how you act on my watch that matters and there is a chance of redemption if you do behave. Terry has already shown a disrespect towards Capello in the England manager’s eyes and is paying a price for it.
If only other managers would follow Capello’s lead. Except they are scared to. Some would say it’s only what happens on the field that matters but they are wrong (and even so, by that yardstick Terry could have also justifiably been in the wrong). The Football Association’s Respect campaign is so much hot air. Now Capello has given it some depth and steel and it’s another reason for the FA to be thankful they appointed him. Results are what will define the success or otherwise of Capello’s reign but he’s already done a huge service to English football with one simple decision.
Finally someone comes out and says it all!!
I've been thinking this for about 2 years now.
Great article.
Posted by: Frank | 27 March 2008 at 01:44 AM
Good article, however, if the same principles were to be held over politicians and journalists where would we be? How many ordinary citizens lives could withstand the close inspection of their good and bad behaviour? What is it about throwing the first stone? Becoming a sportsman is a personal choice, being expected to be an ambassador is someone else's expectation. If the papers didn't report the stories in such a negative fashion maybe we would be less inclined to raise ourselves to the lofty high and mighty position of judge and jury!
Posted by: Jim Bolger | 27 March 2008 at 12:57 PM
While I agree with portions of the article (only naff folks would drive a Bentley)I think we have to remember that our system creates much of the problem. For example in the USA if you want to be a professional athlete you must attend University for four years--which teaches you a little about life (ie Bentley's are naff) and gives you some basics. Anybody who has met a footballer immediately realizes these are really really dumb individuals and therefore their behavior isn't all that surprising. We need to provide a better support system to these guys to help them deal with the issues of money and fame. I wonder whether anybody has had the courage to sit with JT and lay out for him all the problems his behavior causes him
Posted by: michael | 27 March 2008 at 11:57 PM
I agree, if only more managers would take a stronger stand the game would not be in a better state.
Oh, and Michael, there is no requirement whatsoever to attend university in order to become a professional athlete in the US, nor do most of those who actually go through that system actually stay for the entire four years or graduate. The US college athletics system is a glorified training camp for the pro leagues in most sports, and in fact numerous studies have shown that a significant proportion of University athletes in all sports in the US are functionally illiterate, so I don't see how this is any different than the "really dumb individuals" you cite. I wouldn't place so much weight on US college experiences teaching anything about life either; the "student athletes" are pampered beyond belief and as often as not leave college as "grown up" children instead of adults - if anything the athletes that come out of the US university system are more arrogant and more self-absorbed than most footballers in the UK. I`d rather say that the problem exemplified by men like Terry is a universal one based on our obsession with celebrity and our attendant willingness to overlook celebrity stupidity.
Posted by: julian | 28 March 2008 at 09:50 AM
should read: "be in a better state" (delete`"not")
Posted by: julian | 28 March 2008 at 09:52 AM