Terry returns as England captain

Chelsea defender John Terry has been reinstated as captain of the England football team.

Terry, 30, lost the armband last year after reports he was involved in an affair with the former partner of his England and former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge surfaced.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand filled Terry’s void, but England boss Fabio Capello said Terry has endured enough and proved he was a natural leader in his time in the side when he was not captain.

“After one year of punishment, Terry will again be the permanent captain,” Capello said on Saturday.

“I think one year’s punishment is enough. John, when he played without the armband, was every time a leader on the pitch, a leader in the dressing room. He was really good every time.”

“Always he is the same. He is a player that is himself a leader. This is really important. He is the biggest personality in the dressing room.”

The decision was made ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales on March 26, and Capello said the decision is not a risk and should please the players.

“Sometimes the leader can make mistakes – not only him but I, you, all the people,” he said.

“It is not a risk making Terry captain again. He understood the mistake and he learnt from his mistakes. He will be a very important captain for us because when I choose him, I know he is a leader.”

“I also think the players will be happy. I think so. They respect John Terry as a leader, absolutely.”

It means that Ferdinand will revert back into the vice-captain role when he is fit again, with Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard, who will also miss the Wales match through injury, Capello’s third choice for captain.

Capello explained that Ferdinand ‘preferred not to meet’ him when the Italian manager was in Manchester on Wednesday, with reports earlier this week suggesting Ferdinand was upset to be losing this captaincy.