Butcher made his debut for Ipswich in 1976 and over the next eight seasons would establish himself as the club's top central defender, combining leadership with great aerial ability and amazing courage. This was soon noticed by England manager Ron Greenwood ho gave him his debut in a friendly against Australia in 1980.
In 1981, Butcher was part of the Ipswich side that won the UEFA Cup under Bobby Robson and came close to their first League title since 1962, though they were beaten at the post by Aston Villa.
In 1986, Butcher left Ipswich when they were relegated, and became one of the first 'English invasion' players to join Scottish club Rangers. As captain, he led them to three League titles in four seasons, plus two Scottish League Cups. In 1987 he suffered a broken leg.
In 1982, Butcher was the youngest member of the back four which featured at the World Cup in Spain. He remained England's first choice centre back for the rest of the decade, playing in the 1986 World Cup, infamously trying to tackle Diego Maradona with some desperation as the Argentina skipper slotted in his wondrous second goal in the quarter-final, which England lost 2-1. A broken leg meant that Butcher was not in the England side which was torn apart in all three group games at the 1988 European Championship, and his absence proved crucial as Robson was forced to rely on an inexperienced defensive partnership of Tony Adams and Mark Wright.
Then, on 6 September 1989, while playing for England in a vital World Cup qualifier in Sweden, Butcher suffered a deep cut to his forehead early in the game. Butcher had some impromptu stitches inserted by the physiotherapist and, swathed in bandages, continued playing. His constant heading of the ball - unavoidable when playing in the centre of defence - disintegrated the bandages and reopened the cut to the extent that his white England shirt was entirely red by the end of the game. This match remains his defining moment as one of England's great footballing heroes, especially as England got the draw they needed to qualify for the 1990 competition, and is often used when referencing Butcher even today.
He left Rangers on 15 November 1990 to become player-manager of Coventry City, at one month short of 32 he was the youngest manager in the Football League on his appointment. Butcher had played six league games for Coventry in the 1990-91 season before announcing his retirement as a player. January 2009, Butcher was announced as the new manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Terry also was assistant manager for Scotland national team under George Burley. Terry also was part of the Carlsberg "Old Lions" TV advert and also is part of the Mars 2010 TV advert.
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