Fabio, I will battle to be leader again, vows Terry

Terry has been stripped of the honour, at least until new manager Fabio Capello decides who will be his permanent leader for the World Cup qualifying campaign starting in September.

Steven Gerrard led the team against Switzerland in Capello's first game and it was Ferdinand in Paris but Terry insists he is still the best man for the job.

'I will say here and now, I want to be the England captain,' says Terry in an interview for Icon magazine. 'I want to keep that armband.

'I am really passionate about it. It means so much to me, to my family. I want to be a successful England captain. We haven't done so well over the past few months but I want to change that.

'If Mr Capello wants someone who is going to go out there, desperate to win and to do everything it takes, then I'll be his right choice. If not, that's down to him to make the decision.

'Of course, I'll respect whatever decision he makes. Mr Capello is a clever man and a great manager and he'll give it to the right person.'

Steve McClaren handed the captaincy to Terry in 2006. His stock was high after leading Chelsea to successive Barclays Premier League titles and he scored just 14 minutes into his first game as England skipper against Greece.

'To lead out my country for real, to be the England captain, was just the best feeling in my life,' recalls Terry, but it was mainly downhill for him and McClaren after the 4-0 win against Greece.

Injuries ruled the Chelsea defender out of the crucial games against Russia and Croatia and McClaren's reign will always be tainted with the failure to reach Euro 2008.

Terry's chances of quickly impressing Capello on the pitch were limited by a broken foot but he recently set the wrong sort of example off the pitch by parking his car in a disabled parking place.

Now, with the issue of respect top of the football agenda, he also finds his reputation for haranguing referees counting against hime.

'I get frustrated and I like to make my point,' explains Terry. 'You have to be careful not to rant and rage.

'As captain I think I am entitled to ask questions. If a referee explains his decision I will walk away. Do you know how many times I have been sent off? Once.

'If you ask the man in the street, he will probably say five, six, seven or eight.

'Being passionate has got me where I am today. I do set an example in the way I play.

'If they don't want an England captain fighting for England in every way possible, fighting to win the ball and come out of the tackle fighting for the cause, then that's down to them to make that decision. I am not going to change the way I am on the pitch.'

Another blow to Terry came with Jose Mourinho's exit from Chelsea this season but he rejects allegations he led a mutiny against the manager after a disappointing Champions League draw with Rosenborg.

Terry admits: 'There was a row after the Rosenborg game but there is no problem between us now. We had an argument, like you do sometimes.

'The next day we had a film premiere and then the manager was sacked. I came in and saw him and he was fine with me. Even now we still keep in contact.

'There never was a problem. I didn't want to get rid of him. He is probably the best manager I have worked with.'

Terry wants to stay at Stamford Bridge for the rest of his career. 'I have a great rapport with the fans and I don't see myself playing abroad or for another club.'

And he hopes to see Frank Lampard, out of contract next year, commit his future to the club and preserve the English pedigree which he believes gives Chelsea an edge over Arsenal.

Terry says: 'You need an English backbone; one with that force, that togetherness, that pulling together. It's why Arsenal might still come up short in the run-in.

'It's vital Frank stays. After the season has finished we need to get Frank sat down and agreeing a new deal.

'He is Chelsea now, the fans love him and you couldn't go out and replace him.'