John Terry has vowed to do everything he can to ensure that he is named as England's captain on a full-time basis. The Chelsea defender was installed as national skipper under previous boss Steve McClaren, but uncertainty continues to rein as to whether he will keep the job under Fabio Capello.
The Italian coach has made it clear that he intends to rotate the captaincy between a number of leading candidates before making a final decision once the World Cup qualifiers get underway in September. Despite seeing Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand lead the team out in Capello's first two games in charge, Terry insists that he is still the right man for the job and is determined to wrestle the armband back in the coming months.
"I remember when I got the job as captain. To walk out for that first game, it was unbelievable," he said. "I want to keep that armband. I am really passionate about it. "It means so much to me, to my family. I want to be a successful England captain. "I've thought about what the new manager will do. I will give everything, in training, in the games. I will give it my all. "We have some great players and some great leaders. Mr Capello is a clever man and a great manager and he'll give it to the right person.
"I will have to be patient and we'll see, but I will say here and now that I want to be the England captain." Capello has stated that his captain must be a model professional both on and off the pitch, and Terry has been criticised of late for his tendency to confront match officials over contentious decisions.
The Chelsea skipper feels that his actions just prove how passionate he is about winning and insists that he is not about to change his ways any time soon. "I get frustrated and I like to make my point," he told Icon magazine in the build up to England's friendly with France.
"You have to be careful not to rant and rage though. "As captain, I think I am entitled to ask questions. If a referee explains his decision, I will walk away. "Being passionate has got me where I am today. I think I do set an example in the way I play. "If they don't want an England captain fighting for England in every way possible, fighting to win the ball and coming out of the tackle fighting for the cause, then that's down to them to make that decision.
"Whilst I am captain, I am not going to change the way I am on the pitch. "When I'm off the pitch, I will be as nice as pie. I'll sign autographs, I'll smile, but as soon as I cross the white line, I am there to win the game."
