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Who will replace John Terry as the captain of Chelsea?With John Terry having all but confirmed that he isn't getting a contract extension with Chelsea Football Club, not only does it leave the club without their senior most player but more importantly, it leaves them without their talismanic captain – one who has guided them to the very pinnacle of European football as well as multiple domestic titles. Having already lost big characters in Frank Lampard, Petr Cech and Didier Drogba in recent seasons, John Terry's absence from the Chelsea team next season will leave the responsibility with some of Chelsea's other stars – ones who won't necessarily get the whole range of emotions while captaining the London club. Here's looking at five players Chelsea can look at to pass on the armband:
#5 John Obi Mikel
The Nigerian is one of Chelsea's longest serving players having joined the Londoners in 2006 but has never established a regular starting spot through the nine-and-a-half-years at the club. Having amassed 236 appearances for Chelsea, he would be an obvious choice to take over as the captain of the club given most of his teammates don't have nearly the starts he does.
As well as being one of the long-standing members of the squad, Mikel is one of the more mature players in the current squad often called upon to right a shaky ship. With his positional abilities and his prowess in reading the game, Mikel is a wall and extremely hard to get through even for the best of attacks and midfields.
Mikel's biggest strength however is his strength and his calmness on the ball. Chelsea players have often counter on the Nigerian to get them out of tight situations with his patience on the ball. The serenity that he oozes could be a huge influence for when Chelsea really need their man and this is why he'd make an able captain for the club in the absence of John Terry.
#4 Nemanja Matic
Nemanja Matic – like Obi Mikel – is a midfielder capable of dictating the game from the centre of the field. Having starred in their Premier League winning 2014-2015 season, Matic is a contender for the armband we can take more seriously given his recent influence on the game and the current first team.
Having joined Chelsea as a youngster, Matic never got the chance for the first team and was loaned across Europe for regular first team action before finally being sold to Portuguese giants, Benfica, in 2011 having made only two appearances for the Blues.
In January of 2014, Matic rejoined Chelsea and rejuvenated and reincarnated, ensured Chelsea sailed through to the Premier League title playing a key role in all of the matches he started. Albeit not very vocal on the pitch, Matic possesses a calmness around his game combined with lunging tackles and his brute strength, is able to dictate the game and his teammates with ease. Having known the club for a while, Matic is likely to know the important of being the captain and hence the inclusion on this list.
#3 Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas was the captain of Arsenal at the tender age of 21, a decision his former manager Arsene Wenger does not regret. A loud and demanding central midfielder, Fabregas, expects his teammates to keep up to the level he sets on the pitch – which going by the way he's playing in England – is quite high.
While at Arsenal, Cesc led from the front. The passion and energy he oozes was always a joy to watch irrespective of which club you supported. For someone so young, he had quite the fire in his belly – something which will come in handy in the middle for Chelsea presently.
With the lack of leaders on and off the pitch, Chelsea could use a few characters like Fabregas who could really do the world a good especially against the bigger teams when strong characters can make the biggest of differences.
#2 Gary Cahill
The natural immediate successor to John Terry at the heart of the defense, Cahill has what it takes to lead from the back. He's been a solid performer for Chelsea whenever he's called upon and has impressed all the managers he's played under while at London.
Where the others on this list lack in experience, Cahill makes up for it at the back. He's 30, been at Chelsea for a few years now having joined from Bolton and has been tested in all scenarios the club has gone through since then. With a 115 appearances, Cahill is one of the more experienced ones having won the Premier League with Jose Mourinho.
With 40 caps for England, Cahill has played the best of forwards in the game and would be a suitable captain given the experience and skill he possesses; having already captained the side a few times in the absence of Terry, Cahill would do well to take on the role full-time given he signed a new contract extension earlier this season.
#1 Branislav Ivanovic
With 237 apperances for the club and the most who has captained the side most of the time in the absence of Terry, Ivanovic would be the pefect person to take on the Englishman's role at Chelsea. Ivanovic is the most experienced player in the first team currently – bar Terry – and is still quite the player given his age.
Reliable at the back and potent while attacking, Ivanovic would excel as a captain given that he can lead by example. Not the most vocal player in the current squad – not even as vocal as Cesc – but can make up for it with his reliability and trust both on and off the ball.
It's been nearly eight years since Ivanovic joined Chelsea and he's gone on to win every possible club level trophy one can win while playing for an English Premier League side and that has moulded him as one of the better right-backs the League has seen over the past two decades.
Ivanovic would be the obvious choice for Chelsea as captain with Terry leaving and having held the arm band – even last week as Terry limped off – before, he'll be familiar with the pressures and the demands it bears on the person.
