Terry quits internationals
John Terry brought his long and often controversial England career to an end on Sunday when the Chelsea defender announced his retirement from international football.
The 31-year-old, capped 78 times since his debut in 2003 and who appeared at two World Cups, issued a statement saying his position in the national team had become untenable due to the Football Association's impending case against him.
Terry is due before an FA tribunal on Monday facing charges of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League game last October despite being acquitted in the law courts in July.
"I am today announcing my retirement from international football," the former England captain said in his statement.
"I would like to thank the England managers who have selected me for my 78 caps.
"I have had great pleasure in sharing that honour with all the players that I've played with. I would like to thank them, the fans and my family for their support and encouragement during my international career.
"Representing and captaining my country is what I dreamed of as a boy and it has been a truly great honour. I have always given my all and it breaks my heart to make this decision."
Terry, who if found guilty of racially abusing Ferdinand could face a lengthy ban similar to the one served by Liverpool's Luis Suarez last season, said the FA had left him in an impossible position.
"I am making this statement today in advance of the hearing of the FA disciplinary charge because I feel The FA, in pursuing charges against me where I have already been cleared in a court of law, have made my position with the national team untenable," Terry, whose last cap was in the recent World Cup qualifier in Moldova earlier this month, said.
East-London born Terry has spent his entire career with Chelsea since joining as a 14-year-old.
RUGGED, FEARLESS
He made his first-team debut in 1998 and quickly established himself as one of the country's best central defenders, rugged and fearless but also possessing the ability to play the ball from the back.
His first England cap came against Serbia and Montenegro in 2003 and he was selected for the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal.
Terry's leadership qualities persuaded former England manager Steve McClaren to give him the captain's armband after David Beckham gave up the position following the 2006 World Cup.
It was a role he took on with pride, although his England captaincy was not without its problems.
The Chelsea stalwart, who regularly put his body on the line for his country, had the armband taken away by Fabio Capello in 2010 after revelations about his private life.
Terry courted controversy at the World Cup finals in South Africa when he hinted that the players were bored at the team's base and that had held clear-the-air meetings with Capello.
After regaining the position due to Rio Ferdinand's injury problems he was again stripped of the captaincy in February over the Anton Ferdinand allegations, a decision that led Capello to quit.
Terry's decision will be a blow to England boss Roy Hodgson who publicly backed him despite the ongoing controversy.
England won 50 of the 78 matches in which Terry appeared, losing just 10. He scored six goals, including the first ever senior goal for England at the new Wembley Stadium in 2007.
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard is the current England captain.
FACTBOX: John Terry
* Born on Dec. 7, 1980 in London.
CHELSEA CAREER
* Joined Chelsea aged 14 as a trainee before spending seven weeks on loan at Nottingham Forest in 2000.
* Chelsea's most successful captain since they were founded in 1905, having led the club to Premier League titles in 2005, 2006 and 2010, FA Cup success in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 and two League Cup trophies in 2005 and 2007.
* Missed a chance to win the 2008 Champions League final against Manchester United in Moscow when his penalty in the shootout struck the post after he slipped on the wet pitch.
* Chelsea win the Champions League for the first time in 2012, but Terry misses the final against Bayern Munich through suspension.
INTERNATIONAL CAREER
* Has played 78 times for England after making his debut in 2003.
* Played at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, after which he was named England skipper by former manager Steve McClaren.
* Was then re-appointed captain in August 2008 after Fabio Capello took charge of England.
* Sacked by Capello as England captain in February 2010 after intense media speculation following allegations about his private life.
* Continued to play for England and is part of the team that is heavily criticised for their disappointing performance at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 when they are eliminated by Germany in the second round.
* Reinstated as England captain in March 2011 but stripped of the role for a second time 11 months later after he was accused of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.
* Terry is later cleared in a court of law but the Football Association's decision to strip him of the armband before his case was heard prompted the resignation of manager Capello.
* Despite being acquitted in the law courts, the FA chose to bring a case against Terry and he is due to face a tribunal on Monday.
* Terry announced his retirement from international soccer on Sunday, issuing a statement saying his position in the national team had become untenable.
