He had already built his fearsome reputation as a brave defender and a superb reader of the game before Italian Fabio Capello was installed as England coach in late 2007.

Capello had seen from afar the sound technique and distribution which had elevated Terry to a lofty position among the world's elite. But it was the leadership qualities that struck him the most.

On the eve of a friendly against the Czech Republic in August 2008, when the Italian unveiled who his captain would be, most expected Rio Ferdinand to be introduced.

Ferdinand is a top player. He is also at ease in front of the media, part of the job Terry has never really liked.

Capello did not base his decision on that.

He reached his conclusion a couple of months earlier, when England took on the United States at Wembley.

It was the game picked out as Terry's audition for the captaincy. It came eight days after the 29-year-old had sat crying in the Luzhniki Stadium as Manchester United lifted the Champions League trophy, knowing he had slipped and missed the penalty that would have given Chelsea victory.

Typically, Terry produced a towering performance against the United States, scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win.

In the context of life as a whole - when you see what has happened in Haiti over this last fortnight - it was not much. In football terms, it was bravery beyond the norm.

Every time Terry is down, he fronts up. When his mother was cautioned after being caught stealing from a supermarket, he still carried out his media duties for England.

His strength of character is to be admired.

He has made questionable decisions in his own private life.

As one of a group of Chelsea footballers, he was involved in a drinking session at a Heathrow airport on the day after the 9/11 attacks, and was accused of behaving offensively towards American tourists. Chelsea fined the players involved two weeks' wages, including Terry.

Allegations of an affair are now being made. Terry was named today as the sportsman behind a gagging injunction involving his private life.

His identity was revealed after Mr Justice Tugendhat gave his reasons at London's High Court for lifting the order which he originally granted at a private hearing last Friday.

It covered the alleged relationship between LNS - as married Terry was referred to in court - and another woman, details about it, including certain specific consequences, information leading to their identification and any photographs.

Terry is married to childhood sweetheart Toni and is the father of twins.

Should the allegations cause Capello any concern, then the Italian's mind will be drawn back to certain other points.

In his very first year as club captain, Terry won the Premier League with Chelsea. He also lifted the Carling Cup.

He was also awarded the PFA Player of the Year's prize by his fellow professionals, the first Chelsea winner of the accolade.

Terry's incredible consistency continued in 2005/06 when injury in the final week robbed him of a full house of Premier League games as he lifted the trophy for a second time.

He scored seven times in all competitions and was voted Chelsea's player of the year for a second time.

What about former manager Jose Mourinho, who once hailed Terry "the best centre-back in the world", skills that were picked up by Steve McClaren, who first made Terry England captain.

Last season Terry suffered knee, cheek, foot and elbow injuries. Yet he was still the man who lifted the FA Cup at Wembley after victory over Everton.