COMMENT: It was almost 20 years ago when a certain Jose Mourinho decided Chelsea must go local for their new club captain...
At 23, John Terry was still to establish himself inside Mourinho's dressing room. But the manager knew what he had. He knew the potential of his young centre-half. And even more crucially, he recognised the symbolism of having this homespun Londoner wearing the captain's armband.
Claude Makelele. Ricardo Carvalho. William Gallas. Mourinho wasn't short of options. But upon Marcel Desailly's departure, he chose Terry - and was rewarded with that first Premier League title in his debut season.
A generation on (sorry old Blues, it really has been that long) and another new, foreign manager faces the same dilemma. They say football - as in life - runs in cycles... but this is nuts.
Today, Mauricio Pochettino has seen Cesar Azpilicueta suddenly depart. And with that, the captaincy vacated. But like Mourinho before him, Pochettino has a 23 year-old homespun defender ready - and capable - of taking up the challenge.
Reece James wants this. He wants the Chelsea captaincy. Both he and his father Nigel have made it clear - publicly - ever since Azpilicueta's exit: Reece is ready for the responsibility.
Nigel said on The Beautiful Game Podcast a fortnight ago: “If they want you … he's been there since six years of age, his ambition is to wear the armband and captain the side and it broke his heart the season we have had just gone.
“Coming off the pitch, losing games, it really hurt him. I'm sure it hurt a lot of players. I can't speak for the other players all I can speak for is knowing how painful it was for my son to feel his club …"
And after wearing the armband against Newcastle in Houston last week, James left us in no doubt of how he feels about taking on the job fulltime.
"I've been at Chelsea my whole life; it's always been Chelsea for me. It's an honour to play for the club and to put the armband on was a great feeling," said the England defender.
Could we say the James family are lobbying for the role? No, that would be unfair - particularly given current circumstances. Which is where Pochettino's situation diverts from what Mourinho was confronting 20 years ago. However, this column would argue the motivations would be the same.
Where Mourinho saw in Terry that local thread that runs through a club. A symbol. A 'flag', as they say on the continent. Pochettino's need for James to step into the breach is greater. Mourinho was building a team of world-beaters. Bankrolled by Roman Abramovich, they were the Manchester City of their day. But the manager was careful to maintain that local link. He needed someone to represent the core and culture of Chelsea. And even at 23, Mourinho saw that in Terry.
For Pochettino, as we say, the needs are different. Much different. This team. This club. It's all in flux. Chelsea have bought and sold not just a senior XI - but a senior squad - over these past 12 months. Managers have come and gone. Champions League winners - by the multiple - have done the same. And as much as some hope has come from preseason performances, for this column, Chelsea will endure another difficult 12 months ahead.
Which is why Pochettino needs an anchor. A local anchor. Someone to offer stability amid so much change - and not all for the better. James is the obvious candidate for the captaincy. Indeed, he's the obvious choice. Essentially, James can be Pochettino's JT.
A homespun, world class defender. At 23 and with a love for the club... these football cycles are indeed crazy. But there is a difference. Terry, in those first seasons, was carried by world class talent around him. He was able to grow into the role as part of a powerful, ground-breaking team. In contrast, James will have to carry much on his young shoulders. Chelsea won't be contenders this season. For this column, a European place may even be beyond them. But they'll need James. They'll need his ability. His quality. And his leadership. It'll be hard days for him. But like Terry, his love for the club, "it's all I know; it's always been Chelsea for me", will go some way to maintaining the relationship with the support through these transitional years.
Ben Chilwell has put his hand up. Thiago Silva is surely a contender. Raheem Sterling too. But for stability. For loyalty. For connection. The choice of Chelsea's next captain is obvious. It just has to be Reece James.
