Chelsea defender John Terry has been reinstated as permanent England captain by boss Fabio Capello.

Terry will lead England out against Wales in next week's European Championship qualifier after succeeding Rio Ferdinand with immediate effect.

There had been confusion over whether Terry would remain captain beyond that game with Capello apparently having misunderstood the meaning of the word 'permanent', and the Italian has faced heavy criticism in the English tabloid press over the way the affair has been handled.

Speaking at a Wembley media, though, he has now reiterated that the Chelsea skipper will be taking the role full-time.

"I decided John Terry would be the captain for this game [against Wales] because, after the game in Copenhagen, the way the armband was moved around was upsetting for him," Capello said.

"Also, I said my decision would be the day before the [Wales] game because I wanted to speak with the players, I wanted to speak with John Terry. I also knew the England doctors spoke with the doctors of Manchester United and Liverpool and I knew that Rio and Steven Gerrard were injured.

"But I have decided that John Terry, after one year of punishment, will again be the permanent captain. I think one year's punishment is enough. He was my first choice when I [initially] decided on the permanent captain."

The 30-year-old was stripped of the armband 13 months ago after an alleged affair with a former girlfriend of England team-mate Wayne Bridge.

Terry was first made the national team skipper under Steve McClaren in 2006, before being reinstated by Capello in 2008 after the Italian initally decided to share the duty between several players.

From ESPN.

Wayne Rooney's View



Wayne Rooney has backed John Terry as England captain, saying the Chelsea defender is a "massive leader".

Terry was reinstated as permanent captain on Saturday, coming 13 months since his removal due to his off-field antics. Fabio Capello insisted Terry has been punished enough for his indiscresions.

Rooney says he is content to see Terry take the armband back - even if it means his Manchester United colleague Rio Ferdinand has lost the job.

Capello's move to make Terry skipper once again has universally angered the English press, with back pages declaring a mutiny within the squad over the way Ferdinand has been treated. But Rooney, who also said he would like to be captain one day, paints a different picture.

"I have said many times that John Terry - even when he isn't the captain - is a massive leader for us," Rooney told the Sunday Mirror. "He has showed in the last year that you don't have to wear the armband to be a leader.

"For us as players it's down to the manager who he picks as captain. There is absolutely nothing we can do to influence Fabio Capello's decision. Rio Ferdinand isn't going to be fit anyway.

"He hasn't played for a while, so I don't think he will be in the squad for the Wales game. The manager has a decision to make."

Terry would have been captain at the World Cup in South Africa but for Terry's alleged relationship with Wayne Bridge's girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel. Rooney says that the issue, which led to Steven Gerrard wearing the armband with Ferdinand out injured, did not overshadow their campaign.

"I don't think the captaincy issue overshadowed the World Cup," he said. "Rio got injured, Steven Gerrard took over and did a good job. I hope the World Cup finals is out of the ­system now - it's definitely out of mine."

Although Rooney would one day like to skipper his country, he believes he is too young for the role at the moment.

"It's a massive thing to captain your country. I have done it once and it's something I will never forget.

"I don't really think about being captain on a permanent basis, but if I ever manage to do it, it would be a big honour.

"Right now I think I am way too young to do the job."

From ESPN.