Chelsea legend John Terry reveals he has given up on his managerial career after being rejected for jobs due to lack of coaching experience. He now focuses on working with Chelsea’s academy.
Chelsea legend and former England defender John Terry has made a surprising admission regarding his career ambitions, revealing that he has decided to step away from pursuing a managerial role due to repeated rejections for jobs. Despite an illustrious playing career, Terry now feels that the managerial path isn’t for him — at least for the time being.
Terry Reflects on Coaching Struggles
Since retiring in 2018, Terry has actively pursued a coaching career, with notable assistant roles at Aston Villa and Leicester City alongside Dean Smith. Despite being one of the most decorated English defenders in history, having won numerous trophies with Chelsea and captaining both his club and the England national team, Terry’s attempts to step into management have not been successful.
In an interview with The Sun, Terry revealed his frustration after several rejections, citing a lack of managerial experience as the key reason why his applications were unsuccessful. He said,
I’m done in terms of coaching. I’m enjoying my life, I’m working in the Chelsea academy. I went for a couple of jobs and those days are gone for me. I’m enjoying my life a little bit, I’ve got my time to myself, I play a bit of golf, I’m in the academy and I have some family time as well.
John Terrry
A Baffling Career Path
Terry’s decision comes after he found himself baffled by the choices made by clubs when hiring managers. The former defender believed his playing experience and leadership qualities would be enough to land him a managerial role, even at lower levels like League One. However, after a series of interviews and constant rejection due to his perceived lack of coaching experience, Terry said, I had interviews and it was just ‘you have no experience.
I had interviews and it was just ‘you have no experience.
He further added,
When I see some people managing today, it baffles me, it really does.
The Struggle for Experience
Despite his vast experience as both a player and assistant coach, Terry believes that the lack of a managerial role is a missed opportunity. He admitted to feeling frustrated, stating that he had “a lot of good attributes to be a really good coach or a really good manager,” but these qualities hadn’t led to the breakthrough he hoped for.
Terry’s journey into coaching started with assisting Dean Smith at Villa, where he helped the club gain promotion to the Premier League in 2019. That experience, combined with his high-profile career as a player, seemed like the perfect foundation to take the step into management. However, the reality has been far different.
What’s Next for Terry?
While Terry has stepped back from actively seeking managerial positions, he still holds a significant role at Chelsea, working in the club’s academy and helping to nurture the next generation of talent. He also remains involved in the Baller League, where he’s seen participating as a manager in a six-a-side competition. Despite his decision to distance himself from a managerial career, Terry remains connected to football and continues to contribute to Chelsea’s development process.
For now, it seems the future holds more academy coaching for Terry, as he focuses on working with young players, honing his craft, and enjoying his life outside the limelight.
