John Terry steps away from management ambitions, focusing on Chelsea academy role

John Terry’s management dreams have come to a close, as the ex-England skipper confirmed he is stepping away from the pursuit of a managerial career.

The former Chelsea captain, 44, had spells on the coaching staff at Aston Villa and Leicester City, where he worked under Dean Smith. At Villa, he helped secure promotion to the Premier League in 2019, but his time in the dugout left him unconvinced about the process of becoming a manager.

Terry has since been interviewed for positions, including at Newcastle and several League One clubs, yet he admitted the experience put him off. “I’m done in terms of coaching. I’m enjoying my life, I’m working in the Chelsea academy,” he explained, describing his current role as more of a mentor and ambassador than a coach.

The former England skipper, who lifted five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, a Champions League and a Europa League with Chelsea, said his focus now lies in passing knowledge to younger players while maintaining balance in his personal life. “I love working with the kids, I love passing on my knowledge and experience to those boys,” he said. “I play a bit of golf, I’m in the academy and I have some family time as well. It’s a really good balance for me.”

Despite being settled at Chelsea, Terry admitted to frustration at not being offered a managerial post. “I absolutely wanted it. When I went into Villa I got great experience under Dean Smith and we got promotion, which was incredible,” he said. “I thought that would be enough to get me a job… but I didn’t even get a sniff.”

The lack of opportunities has left him “baffled” when he compares his career and leadership experience with some of those currently in management. “Am I frustrated? Yes, absolutely, because I have a lot of good attributes to be a really good coach or a really good manager, but unfortunately, that’s not happened,” he admitted.

Mentoring roles like John Terry’s are increasingly recognised as vital in sport, with Sport England highlighting how structured support can improve young athletes’ confidence and progression. Similarly, the Premier League Charitable Fund invests in youth development and mentoring schemes across England, reflecting the importance of figures like Terry in shaping the next generation.

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