Returning to play for England offers John Terry nothing but risk and downside at a crucial point in his Chelsea career. Is Sam Allardyce willing to add Terry to England’s management staff?
While Chelsea scrambles to reinforce their centre-backs, England manager Sam Allardyce believes Chelsea centre-back John Terry is a solution to his problems. After England’s limp performance at Euro 2016, Allardyce is looking to Chelsea’s captain to rapidly restore England’s confidence and reputation.
Other than the opportunity to wear his nation’s jersey a few more times, Allardyce has nothing to offer John Terry. England has no major tournaments in the coming year. The Three Lions will focus on avoiding any further embarrassment in World Cup 2018 qualifiers. John Terry can not fill in any gaps on his resume by accepting Allardyce’s offer.
John Terry would play a Guus Hiddink-style role for Sam Allardyce’s England. He would come in to heal a wounded locker room, lift some of the burden off the older players and build confidence among the younger players. On matchdays he would wear the captain’s armband and, alongside his Chelsea defense partner Gary Cahill, lead, organize and discipline his side.
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But that projection neglects the costs and risks Terry would incur by returning to England. Every minute John Terry is training or playing for England is one fewer minute he is restoring himself to match condition for Chelsea. Every aerial duel or attempt to recover position is a potential injury that could end – not just sideline – his Chelsea days.
At 35 years old and vulnerable by his lack of mobility, Terry needs the full week between matches to prepare for his next 90 minutes. As disappointed as he is to not be playing in Europe with Chelsea this season, he has to appreciate the benefits of not having midweek games on his training and performance.
Terry’s priority this season is securing his long-scheduled retirement season at Chelsea. An injury, a significant drop in form or a reduction in his already-reduced playing time will all count against him as he negotiates his final one-year contract.
John Terry cannot risk his one-club career simply to do a solid for Sam Allardyce. Allardyce has nothing to offer Terry, so he will have to appeal to Terry’s patriotism and sense of duty. He may even sprinkle in an offer of redemption. By giving Terry the opportunity to rejoin England, Terry can exit the international stage fully on his own terms unlike in 2012.
Terry will not be numb to these appeals, but needs to maintain his focus. A compromise that could satisfy both sides would see Allardyce carving out a special management or consultant role for John Terry at England.
A player-manager role would be too tempting to tilt towards the “player” aspect, and Terry obviously has full-time responsibilities to Chelsea. Terry and Allardyce should create the position from scratch, explicitly spelling out the role, expectations and duration of the appointment.
Allardyce and England would gain all the benefits of having Terry in the locker room. John Terry would incur none of the risks of being on the pitch. Terry aspires to coaching after he retires from play, and a billet with England would boost that transition.
When the Football Association appointed Sam Allardyce, a common concern was that Allardyce is a masterful single-season savior, not a long-term strategist. Other than his first term at Bolton Wanderers, Allardyce has done much more rescuing than building. He can quickly reverse a desperate situation, but that is a far cry from developing a strong growth platform for the future.
Allardyce is retreating to his short-term mentality as he builds his first England squad. The FA and England fans demand immediate improvements. But more than anything else they want strong showings in the World Cups and European Championships. Those are long-term endeavors.
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The image of John Terry as a centre-back Cincinnatus is easy to conjure. The captain, leader and legend comes out of retirement, serves his nation and quietly returns when the job is complete. But it is never that simple nor secure. Terry’s foremost duty to himself, his club and his family is to retire a Blue in 2018. Sam Allardyce and England have no place in that plan.