Hall of Fame

Most successful captain ever: The numbers behind John Terry's career

22 Apr 2024
John Terry

The Hall of Fame inductee won five titles as a captain and has more goals and clean sheets than ANY other defender

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We look at the incredible numbers behind the career of 2024 Premier League Hall of Fame inductee John Terry.

Career in numbers
Category John Terry
Appearances 492
Goals 41
Assists 12
Clean sheets 214
PL titles 5
Monthly awards 1

"Captain, leader, legend". Chelsea fans' slogan for their hero rang true as the defender captained the Blues to five titles, the most by any player as a captain in the Premier League era. He is the only player to feature in all five of Chelsea's title-winning seasons.

One of the best centre-backs in the competition’s history, Terry led by example with his willingness to put his body on the line.

He also contributed at the other end of the pitch, scoring 41 goals, more than any other defender.

Most goals by defenders
Player Goals
John Terry 41
David Unsworth 38
Leighton Baines 32
Ian Harte 28
Gary Cahill 28

A mainstay in Chelsea's defence, Terry played every minute of his penultimate title-winning campaign in 2014/15, before winning the Trophy in his final season at Stamford Bridge.

Terry contributed to 214 clean sheets, the most of any defender in Premier League history.

Defenders with most clean sheets
Player Clean sheets
John Terry 214
Jamie Carragher 195
Rio Ferdinand 189

Among defenders to play at least 20,000 minutes in the Premier League, only Tony Adams had a better ratio of minutes-per-goal conceded than Terry, with Chelsea conceding on average once every 111 minutes with him on the pitch.

Best mins/goal conceded records
Defender Mins/goal conceded
Tony Adams 118
John Terry 111
Sami Hyypia 103
Ashley Cole 103
Vincent Kompany 103

Terry made his first appearance in December 1998 and his last in May 2017. In that period he ranked second for matches won and top for clean sheets. 

A one-club man, he made 492 appearances for Chelsea. Only four players have played more matches for one club. 

Most apps for one club
Player Club Appearances
Ryan Giggs Man Utd 632
Jamie Carragher Liverpool 508
Steven Gerrard Liverpool 504
Paul Scholes Man Utd 499
John Terry Chelsea 492

Terry made 116 Premier League appearances in London derby matches, with only Frank Lampard appearing in more (139).

Between March 2004 and October 2008, Terry went 73 consecutive Premier League appearances at Stamford Bridge without losing. Only four players have ever had a longer run of unbeaten home matches.

Longest unbeaten home runs
Player Club Period Matches unbeaten
Didier Drogba CHE 2004-10 80
Sadio Mane SOU, LIV 2016-21 79
Frank Lampard CHE 2004-08 77
Joe Cole CHE 2004-10 77
John Terry CHE 2004-08 73

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