Just because it’s not a surprise doesn’t mean it hurts any less. After 19 years as player, ambassador, captain, leader and legend, John Terry will leave Chelsea at the end of this season.
Chelsea FC announced today John Terry will end his time at Chelsea at the end of this season. After 713 appearances – 578 of them wearing the captain’s armband – Terry will wear a different kit next year if he continues playing.
The announcement may pour salt in the wound of many Chelsea fans (and supporters) still processing yesterday’s thrashing at Manchester United. As fans shuffle through anger, resentment, anger, depression, fear and anger, they can now replace some of the anger with resigned sadness that the day has come for Terry to move on.
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For the players, though, this may be more strategically timed. John Terry deserves a proper send-off. Not just one with an emotional speech at Stamford Bridge. One with a trophy parade around the pitch and a bus parade through West London. This news should galvanize the locker room to “win one for the gipper.”
Terry’s protege and likely successor, Gary Cahill, will surely permit no further displays like yesterday to ensure Terry ends his Chelsea career properly. Terry himself hammered home the point in his official statement.
"I’ve always been conscious that I depart at the right time, in the right way, and I feel that the end of this season is the right time for the club and I. I feel I still have plenty to offer on the pitch but understand that opportunities here at Chelsea will be limited for me… I will of course always be a Blue and am desperate to end my final season as a Chelsea player with more silverware. – Chelsea FC"
The club specifically mentioned the possibility that Terry may return in a non-playing role. Many of his former Chelsea teammates – Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba – have already expressed their intention to do so. Drogba recently took a major step in his management career by becoming part-owner of Phoenix Rising in the United Soccer League (the US’s second-and-a-half tier).
Speculation will now turn to where John Terry will go next. As with most players in his position, Major League Soccer and Chinese Super League loom large for playing opportunities and sums of money. Perhaps he and Diego Costa will share a pitch in Tianjin next season.
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John Terry’s retirement adds another layer of drama, tension and emotion to a final run-in that barely needed any more. Over the coming days tributes from around the footballing world will pour in to Stamford Bridge. Hopefully Chelsea’s XI will understand what they must do now.