How John Terry compares to the best Premier League centre-backs of all time

Since his 1998 debut, John Terry has almost become as synonymous with Chelsea as the colour blue. Now, after skippering the club in its most successful era, he has announced that he is moving on at the end of the 2015-16 season.

While he may have a chequered history off the pitch, there is no questioning his exploits on it - but how do his achievements compare to other centre-backs in the Premier League era?

Tony Adams

A rarity in modern football, Tony Adams spent his entire 22-year professional career with Arsenal. Captaining the "famous four" back-line of Steve Bould, Nigel Winterburn, and Lee Dixon from the "Boring, Boring Arsenal" of George Graham's tenure to the flair and panache of the Arsene Wenger era.

The only player to captain top-flight league-winning sides in three decades, Adams won four Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two League, Cups and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup during his time with the club. His statue is one of four that adorn the terrace outside the Emirates Stadium, honouring the angular defender who was one of the most feared opponents in Premier League history.

Nemanja Vidic

Nemanja Vidic only recently announced that he was hanging up his boots following an injury-hit spell at Inter Milan, but before his time at Italy, the Serbian cut an intimidating figure at the back.

Often slotted alongside Rio Ferdinand, the duo made Manchester United incredibly difficult to breach and will continue to endure as one of the most iconic defensive partnerships in the Premier League era.

Five Premier League titles, three League Cups, and a Champions League later, Vidic gave an emotional farewell to English football in 2014.

Gary Pallister

As a keen supporter of the club, Gary Pallister was proud to bookend his career with spells at Middlesbrough, but it is the narrative in the middle that the uncompromising centre-half was most famous for.

Pallister's name is often mentioned in the same breath of Steve Bruce due to the pair forming a stingy double-act in the middle of Manchester United's defence for seven years. But while his teammate was controversially never rewarded on the international stage, Pallister also flourished while wearing the Three Lions.

The 1992-93 season broke a lull of 26 years without a United title, and Pallister was a vital component of the beginnings of Sir Alex Ferguson's trophy-laden tenure. He also spent six more years and hoisted the Premier League trophy one more time than fellow Old Trafford hero Jaap Stam.

Rio Ferdinand

Arguably the Premier League's most successful centre-half, six-time PFA Team of the Year member Rio Ferdinand partnered with Nemanja Vidic to form the English top-flight's most daunting defensive pairings. His £33.3 million transfer to Old Trafford from Leeds United is still the most paid for a defender in English top-flight history.

In 13 seasons with the Red Devils following a spell with Yorkshire side, the West Ham academy product hoisted the Premier League trophy six times coupled with three League Cups, six Community Shields and the 2007-08 Champions League win.

Vincent Kompany

Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany has been a focal point of a club that has transformed from a success-starved topsy-turvy outfit to one of the more formidable forces in Europe.

He is adored by the Eastlands faithful and is a scarce example in today's game of a player that has truly embraced the culture of his team and the city it calls home. Hampered by injuries in recent times, he has been largely unimpeachable during his seven-and-a-half years that has seen him collect two winners' medals in the Premier League.

Sol Campbell

The only player during the Premier League era to move from North London rivals Tottenham to Arsenal, Sol Campbell followed a decade at Spurs with a trophy-laden six-year spell with the Gunners.

As domineering on the ball as he was savage in tackling, the 73-time capped England international won the League Cup at Tottenham before twice winning the league at Arsenal, starting 35 Premier League matches in 2003-04 with the famed Invincibles side. Campbell was also part of sides that won three FA Cups coupled with one at Portsmouth, remaining the only Arsenal player to score a goal in the Champions League final.

How does John Terry measure up?

In terms of trophies, Terry's tenure with Chelsea is incomparable to the six aforementioned centre-backs. Since joining the Blues' senior team in 1998, the 78-time capped international has hoisted four Premier League trophies, five FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League and Europa League titles in consecutive years.

A club legend that is despised by many neutral supporters for a host of character issues and on-field incidents, the fact that he is widely regarded as the Premier League's best is a testament of the gap between he and his fellow standout centre-backs.