Chelsea FC summer homework: Defenders

John Terry: Finish Coaching Badges

In 2015 John Terry told his Instagram followers that he was on the path to becoming a “shirt-and-tie manager” as he worked a training session with Chelsea’s U15’s.

This summer would be a great time for Captain, Leader, Legend to go to Debenhams and do some shopping while working on his coaching badges.

As far back as 2011 John Terry was openly working towards his managerial ambitions.

"Obviously that’s my overall aim: to become manager. It’s great for current players as well, looking at [Andre Villas-Boas], and the fact that Roberto Di Matteo has come back in as well, and seeing that players who have been around the club and know it inside out are being given chances… [T]he club are encouraging that, which is good. – The Guardian"

Terry would obviously like to have a longer tenure working the touchline than di Matteo and Villas-Boas. Improving his chances of getting the final contract transitioning him from player to manager, and then securing his appointment as an academy coach, starts in the current off-season.

The contact negotiations that extended throughout the second half of the 2015/16 season acknowledged that John Terry’s future contributions to the club will have little to do with protecting Chelsea’s six-yard box.

Both parties’ statements upon reaching a one-year agreement highlighted Terry’s continuing value beyond game day: leadership, managing the locker room’s transition for Antonio Conte, maintaining continuity with the Academy and ameliorating the fans’ growing discontent.

John Terry secured half of what he wanted in his end-of-season contract negotiations: He wants to retire as a Blue after two more seasons.

Terry’s mission for 2016/17 will be providing Chelsea a reason to grant him one final one-year contract to see out his playing career. His final player contract with the club will complete his transition from player to manager. At the end of the 2018 season, Terry will have to be ready to either take on a full-time role with Chelsea’s academy or a first team role elsewhere in English football.

Knowing that more will be expected of him this season off the pitch than on, and that his final playing contract with Chelsea will shift that balance even further, John Terry should spend his summer in the classroom and with the academy wrapping up his coaching badges.

Next: Kurt Zouma: Mind over Matter