Former Chelsea star Graeme Le Saux changes perception of John Terry with just one heartwarming story

WHEN it comes to a footballers and reputations, it’s safe to say that John Terry’s is not one of the best.

The Chelsea skipper’s character first took a hit when he was alleged to have had an affair with then team-mate Wayne Bridge’s wife… But worse was to follow.

He was banned for four matches and fined £220,000 in 2012 after the FA adjudged him to have racially abused Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League clash against QPR – despite being cleared by Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

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Terry has kept himself a bit more low-profile since those incidents, but his bad boy tag has been a difficult one to shake off.

But two of his fellow Blues icons have revealed a lot more softer side to the 36-year-old.

Pat Nevin and Graeme Le Saux – both anti-racism activists – have painted an entirely different picture of the supposed villain.

The duo were guests on the , and they explained how the Chelsea man was a misunderstood individual.

Nevin said: “Terry is quite incredible as a mentor – what he’s doing, showing an attitude in certain areas that people don’t understand. He’s one of the most misunderstood footballers I’ve ever come across in my life.

“If you watch him with fans, if you watch him at any get together when he’s with everyone, he has got one of the most incredible personalities I’ve ever met in the game.

“Now, considering my politics, my background, what I’ve worked in, you do not expect to hear that from me. But I’ve watched him closely.

“He’s a pretty special individual in a lot of areas, and he will pass a lot of incredibly positive things on.”

And ex-England international Le Saux added: “It’s funny because, that public image of him and some of the ‘baggage’, shall we say that he’s collected along the way, it’s such a shame – for many reasons, of course.

“But one quick example, I remember I was out in Hong Kong with the team a few years ago, and we were hosting a family to go and meet a few of the players.

“The daughter of this family was probably about eight, and I said to her, ‘if you get to meet one player as they go to get on the bus, who would you like to meet?’

“She [gave] a toss-up between Frank [Lampard] and John, so I said, ‘okay, look, let’s see if we can get you to meet both of them’.

“Anyway, John came out and I introduced them. And as he was just about to go, he paused, opened his washbag, and he took out his captain’s armband from this pre-season friendly.

“He obviously realised he had it in his washbag, took it out, called her back, put it on her arm and said: ‘You’re Chelsea captain now’.

“No cameras around, there’s no publicity, but it was just a wonderfully thoughtful gesture. And that girl – I mean that would have absolutely made her life. She’ll never forget that.”

Nevin added: “I’ve actually seen him do that sort of thing more than I’ve seen any other professional footballer in my life.

“That sort of thing is absolutely him. And he does it when no one’s watching.”