John Terry has revealed it is his ‘dream’ to one day manage Chelsea, adding he does not understand why he has found coaching opportunities so hard to come by.
Terry hung up his boots in 2018 after following his 19-year Chelsea career with a one-season stint at Aston Villa, and promptly pivoted into coaching.
He has struggled to find openings in the dugout, though, spending three years as Dean Smith’s assistant at Villa and helping the club earn promotion to the Premier League before upping sticks in the hopes of finding a head coach role. That move did not materialise, and Terry now coaches in Chelsea’s academy.
In a new video posted to his social media channels, though, Terry set his sights on taking the helm at Chelsea: “For me the one thing that’s missing is being manager (of Chelsea). It’s my one last dream, I’ve done everything at Chelsea.
“I think I would be a really good number one. As a player, you retire after 22 years playing and 100 per cent you learn enough to go into management.
“That’s why I went into coaching when I finished playing. My idea and dream was to learn my trade a bit.”
He continued, saying it was ‘difficult to fathom’ that he was yet to find a full-time managerial post and admitting that his chance may never come.
“I went away and learnt my trade, I had some unbelievable times at Villa, I left Villa to be a number one, I thought I was ready. I think I’d be a really good number one, I enjoyed the coaching side of it.
“I'm not saying a job in the Premier League or the Championship - but a job at League One level. I didn't even get a sniff.
“I had interviews and it was just ‘you have no experience’. When I see some people managing today, it baffles me, it really does.
“I could lead the dressing room and the team like I did [as a player]. That’s what I did for 22 years at the club. I know I’d be good at it.
“Will I ever get the chance? I’m not sure, without doing the other bits. But when people tell you you’ve not got the experience, it’s difficult to fathom.”
@johnterry26 I will never give up the dream 💭 but I love my role in the academy working with the younger players. 💙⚽️ #cfc #chelsea #chelseafc
♬ original sound - John Terry
Plenty of Terry’s former team-mates made smoother transitions into managerial roles. Chief among them is Frank Lampard, whose Coventry side currently sits atop the Championship. He previously spent two spells in charge of Chelsea and helped Everton dodge relegation.
Former England team-mates Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney have also moved into management, with limited success.
