Bryan Robson last night welcomed the appointment of John Terry, Chelsea's inspirational leader, to the role of England captain, writes Hyder Jawad.
Robson, the West Bromwich Albion manager, who captained England on 65 occasions in the 1980s and 90s, has long backed Terry's cause in the race become David Beckham's successor.
Steve McClaren, the new England head coach, announced yesterday that Terry had been given the nod ahead of Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, to lead the national team. Gerrard will be the vice-captain.
"John will make a great England captain," Robson said. "He possesses all the leadership qualities needed to be a skipper. He leads by example and both organises and demands from the play-ers around him. He is the ideal man to lead England's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign."
Robson is on record as saying that Beckham should not even have been the England captain at the 2006 World Cup, in which England underachieved badly.
"Becks would not have been my choice as captain," Robson said. "Gerrard and Terry are more natural leaders and have the aggression most managers like in a captain.
"Beckham is not a leader on the pitch. To my mind, Terry has probably edged ahead of Gerrard. He leads by example, is an excellent organiser and has the presence that everyone in the team will respect. He also scores goals, a great bonus for a defender."
Only Billy Wright, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender, and Bobby Moore captained England more often than Robson.
Beckham captained England on 58 occasions.
