Chelsea Should Follow England's Lead by Making Gary Cahill Vice-Captain

For Gary Cahill, the past two-and-a-half years have been eventful. For the right reasons.

Facing a relegation scrap with Bolton Wanderers, he joined Chelsea in January 2012 for just £7 million. In a remarkable change of fortunes, within months he was a European champion and has since gone on to become a regular for club and country.

This week, England manager Roy Hodgson named him vice-captain of the Three Lions, all but completing his meteoric rise.

With Chelsea undergoing a similar transformation to the England team this summer, losing senior players such as Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, Jose Mourinho should follow Hodgson's lead by giving Cahill a similar status at Stamford Bridge.

So long as John Terry is the on the scene, the Chelsea captaincy will always be his.

He will be 34 this December, however, and how long he will continue to play at the highest level remains to be seen.

In many ways, Cahill would be his natural successor to the armband and as Chelsea look to the future, making him Terry's No. 2 would be the ideal move.

Cahill is a contradiction to the stereotype we know of the modern footballer. A gentleman on and off the pitch, the only profile he carries is for what he achieves on a Saturday afternoon.

There aren't any scandals, any affairs or controversy that follows him. He's a footballer and nothing else.

Cahill is the ideal role model for young players coming through at any football club—especially Chelsea—showing where hard work and the right attitude, combined with talent, can get you.

Those qualities don't necessarily make a captain, of course. There are many more besides, such as leadership on the pitch, commanding respect from teammates and perhaps above all else, showing up when it really matters.

Cahill's developed that side of his game at Chelsea, too.

Eyebrows were raised when he was snapped up from struggling Bolton. He was hardly the superstar signing the Blues have become known for since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

Quiet and unassuming, he has gone on to become everything the football public thought he wasn't.

Cahill's form has been such that he replaced David Luiz as Terry's preferred defensive partner and has grown into an exceptional player.

He has made the most of the opportunity joining Chelsea gave him and under Mourinho, has flourished.

Without Cahill alongside Terry these days, the Blues are a different proposition defensively.

Indeed, he is to Terry what Ricardo Carvalho was a decade ago. He complements the former England captain's talents and makes the team stronger for his presence.

Right now, Chelsea aren't blessed with English talent, either.

There are other players equally capable of filling Terry's boots when the time comes, but nationality can count for a lot.

Regardless of what opposition fans' opinions are of him, Terry has been the homegrown leader every club needs. This past decade he has ensured Chelsea's traditions continue, playing a vital part in maintaining the club's heartbeat.

From the terraces to the boardroom, a captain is about much more than what happens on the football pitch. He needs to carry the flag, be the man to which everyone can relate and the club revolves.

Cahill is emerging as that figure.

He isn't John Terry, nor is he Dennis Wise or Ron Harris. What Cahill is, though, is a player with the qualities to be an important figurehead for the future of Chelsea.

He's what the club needs.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes